Margaret, was born in Mayfair on 12 June 1788, the only child of George Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith, admiral, and his first wife, Jane, only child and heiress of William Mercer of Aldie, Perth. Upon her mother's death in 1789 she became heiress to the barony of Nairne (then in attainder) and later succeeded to the title.[2]
Margaret was introduced at a young age to the circle of the Princess Charlotte of Wales, to whom she became attached and a close confidante; and this position raised a rumour against her (which, however, she was able entirely to refute) that she betrayed the princess's secrets to the Prince Regent.[2]
On 20 June 1817, at Edinburgh, Margaret married Charles Joseph, comte de Flahaut, aide-de-camp to Napoleon Bonaparte, who had been educated in Britain, where he took refuge during the Bourbon Restoration. The countess held a prominent place in society since her husband held office under Louis-Philippe and later under Napoleon III, and was ambassador at Vienna, and (1860) to the Court of St. James's (London), and finally resided at Paris as Grand Chancellor of the Légion d'honneur. The countess, who was one of the lady patronesses of Almack's and who was a prominent member of polite society, took part in all his social and political work.[2][3] She was a prolific and perspicacious letter writer, and much of her correspondence is held in the Archives nationales, Paris.[4]
Chaumont, Jean-Philippe (editor), Archives du général Charles de Flahaut et de sa famille : 565 AP : inventaire, Centre historique des archives nationales, Paris (2005) ISBN9782110052247ISBN9782860003100OCLC 607725219
Scarisbrick, Diana, Margaret de Flahaut (1788–1867): A Scotswoman at the French Court, John Adamson, Cambridge (2019) ISBN978-1-898565-16-1OCLC 1076395537
Notes
^See Getty's Union List of Artist Names. See also Frick Collection, where there is archival material.
^See Archives du général Charles de Flahaut et de sa famille : 565 AP : inventaire (online version at the Hathi Trust).
References
Reynolds, K. D. (2004). "Margaret de Flahault de la Billardrie (1788–1867)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8751. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Humphreys, Jennett (1889). "Elphinstone, Margaret Mercer". In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 17. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 325–6.
Allardyce's Memoirs of G. K. Elphinstone, 58, 418–19;
margaret, mercer, elphinstone, comtesse, flahaut, baroness, keith, nairne, june, 1788, november, 1867, scottish, society, hostess, born, 1788, june, 1788mayfair, londondied11, november, 1867, 1867, aged, paris, francenationalitybritishother, namescomtesse, fla. Margaret Mercer Elphinstone comtesse de Flahaut Baroness Keith and Nairne 12 June 1788 11 November 1867 was a Scottish society hostess Margaret Mercer ElphinstoneBornMargaret Mercer Elphinstone 1788 06 12 12 June 1788Mayfair LondonDied11 November 1867 1867 11 11 aged 79 Paris FranceNationalityBritishOther namescomtesse de FlahautOccupation s Artist 1 and society hostessSpouseCharles Joseph comte de Flahaut m 1817 ChildrenEmily Clementina Georgina Adelaide Louise Contents 1 Biography 2 Further reading 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditMargaret was born in Mayfair on 12 June 1788 the only child of George Elphinstone 1st Viscount Keith admiral and his first wife Jane only child and heiress of William Mercer of Aldie Perth Upon her mother s death in 1789 she became heiress to the barony of Nairne then in attainder and later succeeded to the title 2 Margaret was introduced at a young age to the circle of the Princess Charlotte of Wales to whom she became attached and a close confidante and this position raised a rumour against her which however she was able entirely to refute that she betrayed the princess s secrets to the Prince Regent 2 On 20 June 1817 at Edinburgh Margaret married Charles Joseph comte de Flahaut aide de camp to Napoleon Bonaparte who had been educated in Britain where he took refuge during the Bourbon Restoration The countess held a prominent place in society since her husband held office under Louis Philippe and later under Napoleon III and was ambassador at Vienna and 1860 to the Court of St James s London and finally resided at Paris as Grand Chancellor of the Legion d honneur The countess who was one of the lady patronesses of Almack s and who was a prominent member of polite society took part in all his social and political work 2 3 She was a prolific and perspicacious letter writer and much of her correspondence is held in the Archives nationales Paris 4 The comtesse died at the Palais de la Legion d honneur in Paris on 11 November 1867 Her eldest daughter Emily Dowager Marchioness of Lansdowne succeeded as Lady Nairne and to her other English Scots and Irish titles 2 3 Further reading EditChaumont Jean Philippe editor Archives du general Charles de Flahaut et de sa famille 565 AP inventaire Centre historique des archives nationales Paris 2005 ISBN 9782110052247 ISBN 9782860003100 OCLC 607725219 Scarisbrick Diana Margaret de Flahaut 1788 1867 A Scotswoman at the French Court John Adamson Cambridge 2019 ISBN 978 1 898565 16 1 OCLC 1076395537Notes Edit See Getty s Union List of Artist Names See also Frick Collection where there is archival material a b c d Humphreys 1889 p 325 a b Reynolds 2004 See Archives du general Charles de Flahaut et de sa famille 565 AP inventaire online version at the Hathi Trust References EditReynolds K D 2004 Margaret de Flahault de la Billardrie 1788 1867 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 8751 Subscription or UK public library membership required This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Humphreys Jennett 1889 Elphinstone Margaret Mercer In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 17 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 325 6 Allardyce s Memoirs of G K Elphinstone 58 418 19 Gent Mag lxxxvii ii 81 The Times 15 Nov 1867 p 7 col 2 Russell s Moore iii 98 99 104 111 112 amp c vii 186 amp c see also Miss Ellis Cornelia Knight s Autobiography External links EditBurke s Peerage www lyon court comPeerage of ScotlandPreceded byWilliam Murray Nairne Lady Nairne1837 1867 Succeeded byEmily Petty FitzmauricePeerage of IrelandPreceded byGeorge Elphinstone Baroness Keith1823 1867 ExtinctPeerage of the United KingdomPreceded byGeorge Elphinstone Baroness Keith1823 1867 Extinct Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margaret Mercer Elphinstone amp oldid 1109445124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
