Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey (néeTwysden; 25 February 1753 – 23 July 1821) was a British Lady of the Bedchamber, one of the more notorious of the many mistresses of King George IV when he was Prince of Wales, "a scintillating society woman, a heady mix of charm, beauty, and sarcasm".[1]
The future George IV began an affair with Lady Jersey, then a 40-year-old grandmother and mother of ten, in 1793.[1] She was also romantically involved with other members of the English aristocracy, including the 5th Earl of Carlisle. It was not until 1794 that she lured the Prince of Wales away from Maria Fitzherbert, with whom he had undergone a form of marriage in a clandestineChurch of England ceremony that all parties to it knew was invalid under the Royal Marriages Act 1772.[7]
Having encouraged the Prince of Wales to marry his first cousin, Caroline of Brunswick in 1794, to whom she was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber, Lady Jersey nevertheless made Caroline's life uncomfortable. In the long term, this made little difference, since the Prince and Princess of Wales had very little regard for each other, and after the birth of their child Princess Charlotte of Wales, they lived apart during their twenty-five year marriage. This left an emotional void for the Prince of Wales that Frances and other mistresses continued to fill, as did Mrs. Fitzherbert.
Since Lady Jersey enjoyed the favour of Queen Charlotte, even the displeasure of George III was not enough to threaten her position, and she continued to run the Prince of Wales' life and household for some time. In about 1803, her previously undisputed place as senior mistress to the Prince of Wales was challenged by his infatuation with Lady Hertford. In 1807, he replaced Lady Jersey, and she lost her position as Lady of the Bedchamber, and would come to have no active involvement with the royal court.
According to Archaeologia Cantiana,
The home of the Bishop's daughter Frances, Lady Jersey, a favourite of George IV, became a society gambling rendezvous, at which the reputations of her cousins were in no way enhanced.[6]
Though it may be said the death of her husband—who had narrowly avoided imprisonment in 1802[1]—in 1805 left her without the means to support her rank,[8] her son increased her jointure to £3,500 per annum and settled her debts many times.[1] Nonetheless, "her attempts to economize appear to have been unavailing".[1] She died on 25 July 1821 in Cheltenham and was buried at Middleton Stoney in the Villiers family vault.
Children
Lady Charlotte Anne Villiers (1771–1808), married Lord William Russell in 1789, and had issue.
Lady Sarah Villiers (b. 1779), married Charles Nathaniel Bayley in 1799.
Hon. William Augustus Henry Villiers (1780–1813), died unmarried in America, having assumed the surname of Mansel in 1802, pursuant to the will of Louisa Barbara, Lady Vernon daughter of Barbara Villiers and Bussy, 4th Lord Mansell.
^ abcdeMartin J. Levy, 'Villiers , Frances, countess of Jersey (1753–1821)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2008
^Frances: On Sunday the Lady of the late Dr. Twysden, Bishop of Raphoe, was safely delivered of a Daughter at her House in St. James's Street. London Evening Post, 24 February 1753 – 27 February 1753; Issue 3952.
^Mary: We hear that on the 10th Instant the Lady of the Lord Bishop of Raphoe was safely delivered of a Daughter, at his Lordship's House in Pall-mall. London Evening Post, 26 September 1751 – 28 September 1751; Issue 3735.
^The story usually provided is that the Bishop was staying with his brother the Baronet. The Baronet had summoned his doctor down from London. Overnight, the Bishop was observed surreptitiously removing the charges from the doctor's pistols. The next morning the Bishop left early. The doctor was warned to check the charges in his pistols. After the doctor had joined the Coach it was held up by a masked figure who continued to advance though repeatedly warned to stop and was shot dead.
^(Thursday) morning died at his House in Jermyn-Street, the Right Rev. Dr. Philip Twisden, Bishop of Raphoe in Ireland, and nearly related to Sir Roger Twisden, Bart. Knight of the Shire for the County of Kent. London Evening Post, 2 November 1752 – 4 November 1752; Issue 3903.
^ abHatton, Ronald G.; Hatton, Christopher H. (1945). "Notes on the Family of Twysden and Twisden". Archaeologia Cantiana. 58: 46.
^Farquhar, Michael (2011). Behind the Palace Doors: Five Centuries of Sex, Adventure, Vice, Treachery, and Folly from Royal Britain. House of Hanover: Random House. pp. 226–227. ISBN978-0812979046.
^Catalogue note for the portrait by Thomas Beach, R.A.
January 06, 2023
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Frances Villiers Countess of Jersey nee Twysden 25 February 1753 23 July 1821 was a British Lady of the Bedchamber one of the more notorious of the many mistresses of King George IV when he was Prince of Wales a scintillating society woman a heady mix of charm beauty and sarcasm 1 The Right HonourableThe Countess of JerseyFrances Villiers Countess of Jersey A mezzotint engraving by Thomas Watson 1743 1781 published in 1774 after the original portrait by Daniel Gardner Countess of JerseyPersonal detailsBornFrances Twysden 1753 02 25 25 February 1753London EnglandDied23 July 1821 1821 07 23 aged 68 Cheltenham Gloucestershire EnglandSpouseGeorge Villiers 4th Earl of Jersey m 1770 wbr ChildrenLady Charlotte Lady William Russell Lady Anne Wyndham George Child Villiers 5th Earl of Jersey Lady Caroline Campbell Duchess of Argyll Lady Georgiana VilliersLady Sarah Bayley The Hon William Mansel Lady Elizabeth Villiers Lady Frances Ponsonby Viscountess Ponsonby Lady Harriet BagotParent s Philip TwysdenFrances CarterKnown forMistress of George IV Contents 1 Early life 2 Royal affairs 3 Children 4 Screen portrayal 5 See also 6 NotesEarly life EditShe was born Frances Twysden in London 2 second 3 and posthumous daughter of The Rt Rev Dr Philip Twysden c 1714 1752 Church of Ireland Lord Bishop of Raphoe 1746 1752 and his second wife Frances Carter later wife of General James Johnston daughter of Thomas Carter of Castlemartin Master of the Rolls in Ireland Her father was the third son of Sir William Twysden 5th Baronet of Roydon Hall East Peckham Kent by his wife and second cousin Jane Twisden A scandal surrounded the death of her father on 2 November 1752 he was allegedly shot while attempting to rob a stagecoach near London 4 5 6 In March 1770 barely a month past her 17th birthday Frances married George Villiers the 4th Earl of Jersey 1735 1805 a 34 year old peer who had succeeded to his father s peerage in August 1769 The year before the 4th Earl had been appointed a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King George III Her husband was appointed Master of Horse to the Prince of Wales in 1795 Royal affairs Edit Lady Jersey by Thomas Beach The future George IV began an affair with Lady Jersey then a 40 year old grandmother and mother of ten in 1793 1 She was also romantically involved with other members of the English aristocracy including the 5th Earl of Carlisle It was not until 1794 that she lured the Prince of Wales away from Maria Fitzherbert with whom he had undergone a form of marriage in a clandestine Church of England ceremony that all parties to it knew was invalid under the Royal Marriages Act 1772 7 Having encouraged the Prince of Wales to marry his first cousin Caroline of Brunswick in 1794 to whom she was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber Lady Jersey nevertheless made Caroline s life uncomfortable In the long term this made little difference since the Prince and Princess of Wales had very little regard for each other and after the birth of their child Princess Charlotte of Wales they lived apart during their twenty five year marriage This left an emotional void for the Prince of Wales that Frances and other mistresses continued to fill as did Mrs Fitzherbert Since Lady Jersey enjoyed the favour of Queen Charlotte even the displeasure of George III was not enough to threaten her position and she continued to run the Prince of Wales life and household for some time In about 1803 her previously undisputed place as senior mistress to the Prince of Wales was challenged by his infatuation with Lady Hertford In 1807 he replaced Lady Jersey and she lost her position as Lady of the Bedchamber and would come to have no active involvement with the royal court According to Archaeologia Cantiana The home of the Bishop s daughter Frances Lady Jersey a favourite of George IV became a society gambling rendezvous at which the reputations of her cousins were in no way enhanced 6 Though it may be said the death of her husband who had narrowly avoided imprisonment in 1802 1 in 1805 left her without the means to support her rank 8 her son increased her jointure to 3 500 per annum and settled her debts many times 1 Nonetheless her attempts to economize appear to have been unavailing 1 She died on 25 July 1821 in Cheltenham and was buried at Middleton Stoney in the Villiers family vault Children EditLady Charlotte Anne Villiers 1771 1808 married Lord William Russell in 1789 and had issue Lady Anne Barbara Frances Villiers 1772 1832 married William Henry Lambton and had issue including John Lambton 1st Earl of Durham married secondly Hon Charles Wyndham son of Charles 2nd Earl of Egremont George Child Villiers 5th Earl of Jersey 1773 1859 married Sarah Sophia Fane daughter of John Fane 10th Earl of Westmorland and Sarah Anne Child only child of Robert Child the principal shareholder in the banking firm Child amp Co Lady Caroline Elizabeth Villiers 1774 1835 married firstly Henry Paget 1st Marquess of Anglesey and had issue She divorced him in the Scottish courts in 1809 and married secondly George Campbell 6th Duke of Argyll Lady Georgiana Villiers d young Lady Sarah Villiers b 1779 married Charles Nathaniel Bayley in 1799 Hon William Augustus Henry Villiers 1780 1813 died unmarried in America having assumed the surname of Mansel in 1802 pursuant to the will of Louisa Barbara Lady Vernon daughter of Barbara Villiers and Bussy 4th Lord Mansell Lady Elizabeth Villiers d unmarried 1810 Lady Frances Elizabeth Villiers 1786 1866 married John Ponsonby 1st Viscount Ponsonby in 1803 Lady Harriet Villiers 1788 1870 married Richard Bagot Bishop of Oxford in 1806 and had issue Screen portrayal EditLady Jersey was played by Caroline Blakiston in the TV series Prince Regent in 1979 See also EditLady Jersey sets her cap at the Prince English royal mistressNotes Edit a b c d e Martin J Levy Villiers Frances countess of Jersey 1753 1821 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 online edn May 2008 Frances On Sunday the Lady of the late Dr Twysden Bishop of Raphoe was safely delivered of a Daughter at her House in St James s Street London Evening Post 24 February 1753 27 February 1753 Issue 3952 Mary We hear that on the 10th Instant the Lady of the Lord Bishop of Raphoe was safely delivered of a Daughter at his Lordship s House in Pall mall London Evening Post 26 September 1751 28 September 1751 Issue 3735 The story usually provided is that the Bishop was staying with his brother the Baronet The Baronet had summoned his doctor down from London Overnight the Bishop was observed surreptitiously removing the charges from the doctor s pistols The next morning the Bishop left early The doctor was warned to check the charges in his pistols After the doctor had joined the Coach it was held up by a masked figure who continued to advance though repeatedly warned to stop and was shot dead Thursday morning died at his House in Jermyn Street the Right Rev Dr Philip Twisden Bishop of Raphoe in Ireland and nearly related to Sir Roger Twisden Bart Knight of the Shire for the County of Kent London Evening Post 2 November 1752 4 November 1752 Issue 3903 a b Hatton Ronald G Hatton Christopher H 1945 Notes on the Family of Twysden and Twisden Archaeologia Cantiana 58 46 Farquhar Michael 2011 Behind the Palace Doors Five Centuries of Sex Adventure Vice Treachery and Folly from Royal Britain House of Hanover Random House pp 226 227 ISBN 978 0812979046 Catalogue note for the portrait by Thomas Beach R A Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frances Villiers Countess of Jersey amp oldid 1131109655, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
