Henrietta Antonia Clive, Countess of Powis (née Herbert; 3 September 1758 – 3 June 1830), was a British writer, mineral collector, and botanist. Her time in India, while her husband was Governor of Madras, was inspirational to her for all three of these pursuits.
In 1798, Henrietta's husband, Lord Clive, was appointed Governor of Madras. Lady Clive followed him to India where she started collecting rocks and minerals,[1] as the first aristocratic woman to pursue that hobby.[2] As her collection was growing, Lady Clive contacted prominent collectors and mineral dealers, such as James Sowerby, John MacCulloch and the Countess of Aylesford. Her records show that many specimens had been given to her by her children. The minerals in Lady Clive's collection, numbering up to 1,000, are arranged systematically by chemistry, as was usual in the early 19th century.[1] In 1817, she organised her collection in two handwritten catalogues, using numbers to identify each specimen and helping the collection remain remarkably complete to this day. A quarter of the original collection is now kept at the National Museum Wales as one of the most important historic mineral collections,[2] having been donated by her great-grandson, George Herbert, 4th Earl of Powis, in 1929.[1]
Upon arriving in India, Lady Powis also created a garden and kept a record of the plants in the area of Mysore and the Carnatic region.[3]
Writingedit
Lady Clive's journals are one of the first written accounts of India by a British woman. Published in the 2010 edited collection Birds of Passage: Henrietta Clive's Travels in South India 1798-1801, they were an important milestone in the emergence of female travel writers and their ascension to the level of their male counterparts.[4]
Marriage and issueedit
Lady Henrietta married Lord Clive's eldest son and heir, Edward Clive, 1st Baron Clive, in 1784.[5] The marriage was beneficial to both families; the bride's family had a prestigious name but considerable debts, while the groom accrued wealth built during Clive's military campaigns in India. The couple settled in Walcot Hall, at Lydbury North, near Bishop's Castle, Shropshire. Their four children were:[1]
Lady Clive inherited the Herbert estates upon the death of her brother, George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis, in 1801, when the earldom became extinct. Three years later, it was recreated in favour of her husband, making her Countess of Powis.
Deathedit
The Countess of Powis died at Walcot Hall in 1830 aged 71 and was buried at Bromfield Parish Church, near Oakley Park. Her husband survived her, dying in 1839.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcde. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
^ abcWilliams, Sally. Laid bare the passions and obsessions of Lady Henrietta, a 19th-century rock chick Wales Online 2010
^Hagglund, Betty (2011). "The Botanical Writings of Maria Graham" (PDF). Journal of Literature and Science. 4 (1): 44–58. doi:10.12929/jls.04.1.04. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
^"Birds of Passage". Eland Books. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
^The Complete Peerage, Volume X. St Catherine's Press. 1945. p. 653.
Further readingedit
Shields, Nancy K., Birds of Passage: Henrietta Clive's Travels in South India 1798–1801 (Eland, 2010). ISBN1906011370
External linksedit
April 10, 2024
henrietta, clive, countess, powis, henrietta, antonia, clive, countess, powis, née, herbert, september, 1758, june, 1830, british, writer, mineral, collector, botanist, time, india, while, husband, governor, madras, inspirational, three, these, pursuits, right. Henrietta Antonia Clive Countess of Powis nee Herbert 3 September 1758 3 June 1830 was a British writer mineral collector and botanist Her time in India while her husband was Governor of Madras was inspirational to her for all three of these pursuits The Right HonourableThe Countess of PowisPortrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds 1777BornHenrietta Antonia Herbert 3 September 1758Oakly Park Bromfield Shropshire EnglandDied3 June 1830 1830 06 03 aged 71 Walcot Hall Southorpe EnglandBuriedBromfield Parish ChurchSpouse s Edward Clive 1st Earl of Powis m 1784 wbr IssueLady Henrietta Williams Wynn Edward Herbert 2nd Earl of Powis Charlotte Percy Duchess of Northumberland Robert CliveParentsHenry Herbert 1st Earl of PowisBarbara HerbertOccupationWriter mineral collector botanist Contents 1 Early life and background 2 Mineral collection and botany 3 Writing 4 Marriage and issue 5 Death 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly life and background edit nbsp Lady Henrietta with her parents and brother in 1760Born in Oakly Park at Bromfield Shropshire into a landed and titled family she was the daughter of Henry Herbert 1st Earl of Powis and Barbara Herbert granddaughter of William Herbert 2nd Marquess of Powis Her family owned a property in London and significant estates in Wales and Shropshire Her birthplace was sold to Robert Clive 1st Baron Clive in 1771 so Lady Henrietta spent her teenage years at the family s ancestral home Powis Castle 1 2 Mineral collection and botany editIn 1798 Henrietta s husband Lord Clive was appointed Governor of Madras Lady Clive followed him to India where she started collecting rocks and minerals 1 as the first aristocratic woman to pursue that hobby 2 As her collection was growing Lady Clive contacted prominent collectors and mineral dealers such as James Sowerby John MacCulloch and the Countess of Aylesford Her records show that many specimens had been given to her by her children The minerals in Lady Clive s collection numbering up to 1 000 are arranged systematically by chemistry as was usual in the early 19th century 1 In 1817 she organised her collection in two handwritten catalogues using numbers to identify each specimen and helping the collection remain remarkably complete to this day A quarter of the original collection is now kept at the National Museum Wales as one of the most important historic mineral collections 2 having been donated by her great grandson George Herbert 4th Earl of Powis in 1929 1 Upon arriving in India Lady Powis also created a garden and kept a record of the plants in the area of Mysore and the Carnatic region 3 Writing editLady Clive s journals are one of the first written accounts of India by a British woman Published in the 2010 edited collection Birds of Passage Henrietta Clive s Travels in South India 1798 1801 they were an important milestone in the emergence of female travel writers and their ascension to the level of their male counterparts 4 Marriage and issue editLady Henrietta married Lord Clive s eldest son and heir Edward Clive 1st Baron Clive in 1784 5 The marriage was beneficial to both families the bride s family had a prestigious name but considerable debts while the groom accrued wealth built during Clive s military campaigns in India The couple settled in Walcot Hall at Lydbury North near Bishop s Castle Shropshire Their four children were 1 Lady Henrietta Antonia Herbert d 1835 married Sir Watkin Williams Wynn 5th Baronet had issue Edward Herbert 2nd Earl of Powis 1785 1848 Lady Charlotte Florentia Herbert 1787 1866 married Hugh Percy 3rd Duke of Northumberland and was the governess of the future Queen Victoria Robert Henry Clive 1798 1854 a politician Lady Clive inherited the Herbert estates upon the death of her brother George Herbert 2nd Earl of Powis in 1801 when the earldom became extinct Three years later it was recreated in favour of her husband making her Countess of Powis Death editThe Countess of Powis died at Walcot Hall in 1830 aged 71 and was buried at Bromfield Parish Church near Oakley Park Her husband survived her dying in 1839 6 References edit a b c d e The Fabulous Mineral Collection of Lady Henrietta Antonia Herbert Countess of Powis Archived from the original on 29 May 2014 Retrieved 6 October 2012 a b c Williams Sally Laid bare the passions and obsessions of Lady Henrietta a 19th century rock chick Wales Online 2010 Hagglund Betty 2011 The Botanical Writings of Maria Graham PDF Journal of Literature and Science 4 1 44 58 doi 10 12929 jls 04 1 04 Retrieved 23 November 2012 Birds of Passage Eland Books Retrieved 12 September 2016 Paul Frame 12 April 2018 Clive Henrietta Antonia 1758 1830 traveller and scientific collector Dictionary of Welsh Biography National Library of Wales Retrieved 28 October 2021 The Complete Peerage Volume X St Catherine s Press 1945 p 653 Further reading editShields Nancy K Birds of Passage Henrietta Clive s Travels in South India 1798 1801 Eland 2010 ISBN 1906011370External links editThe Noble Family of Clive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henrietta Clive Countess of Powis amp oldid 1197445464, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
