Mary Elizabeth Pitt, Countess of Chatham (2 September 1762 – 21 May 1821),[1] formerly Mary Elizabeth Townshend, was an English noblewoman and political campaigner. Her husband was John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham.[2]
She married the earl on 9 July 1783,[5] at St George's, Hanover Square. Her brother-in-law, William Pitt the Younger, became prime minister later the same year, and Mary's father, a political ally, became Home Secretary in 1784. In 1799 her husband, the earl, became First Lord of the Admiralty.[2] In 1800, the countess's eldest brother, John, an MP since 1786, inherited the viscountcy on their father's death.
Although by nature shy, and often in poor health, the countess was obliged to campaign on behalf of her husband and father and the Pitt government. Soon after her marriage, she had begun suffering from rheumatism, which confined her to bed for a long period and later often forced her to use a wheelchair. After the death of her brother-in-law in 1806, she began suffering bouts of mental illness, which frequently incapacitated her. In October 1807, she made a suicide attempt, which resulted in her being kept out of the public eye for several years, and she never fully returned to public life.[2]
She died, possibly of liver failure, at the couple's London home in Hill Street, Mayfair.[6] She was buried in the Pitt family vault in Westminster Abbey.[7] Her marriage was childless and the earldom became extinct on her husband's death in 1835.[5]
Referencesedit
^G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed. (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume III, page 147.
^ abcJacqueline Reiter (July 2018). "The invisible countess". History Today. 68 (7): 52–55.
^The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for the Year ... Edw. Cave, 1736-91;1868-93. 1854. p. 410.
^The Leisure Hour: An Illustrated Magazine for Home Reading. W. Stevens, Printer. 1867. p. 570.
^ abThe Gentleman's Magazine. W. Pickering. 1835. p. 546.
^Victoria Purcell (7 April 2021). "Mayfair's largest mansion goes on sale". The Resident. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
^The Gentleman's Magazine (London, England). F. Jefferies. 1821. p. 565.
January 01, 1970
mary, pitt, countess, chatham, mary, elizabeth, pitt, countess, chatham, september, 1762, 1821, formerly, mary, elizabeth, townshend, english, noblewoman, political, campaigner, husband, john, pitt, earl, chatham, mary, daughter, thomas, townshend, viscount, s. Mary Elizabeth Pitt Countess of Chatham 2 September 1762 21 May 1821 1 formerly Mary Elizabeth Townshend was an English noblewoman and political campaigner Her husband was John Pitt 2nd Earl of Chatham 2 Mary was the daughter of Thomas Townshend 1st Viscount Sydney and his wife the former Elizabeth Powys Her younger sister Frances 1772 1854 married George Rice 3rd Baron Dynevor 3 Another sister Harriet 1773 1814 married Charles Montagu Scott 4th Duke of Buccleuch 4 She married the earl on 9 July 1783 5 at St George s Hanover Square Her brother in law William Pitt the Younger became prime minister later the same year and Mary s father a political ally became Home Secretary in 1784 In 1799 her husband the earl became First Lord of the Admiralty 2 In 1800 the countess s eldest brother John an MP since 1786 inherited the viscountcy on their father s death Although by nature shy and often in poor health the countess was obliged to campaign on behalf of her husband and father and the Pitt government Soon after her marriage she had begun suffering from rheumatism which confined her to bed for a long period and later often forced her to use a wheelchair After the death of her brother in law in 1806 she began suffering bouts of mental illness which frequently incapacitated her In October 1807 she made a suicide attempt which resulted in her being kept out of the public eye for several years and she never fully returned to public life 2 She died possibly of liver failure at the couple s London home in Hill Street Mayfair 6 She was buried in the Pitt family vault in Westminster Abbey 7 Her marriage was childless and the earldom became extinct on her husband s death in 1835 5 References edit G E Cokayne with Vicary Gibbs H A Doubleday Geoffrey H White Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden editors The Complete Peerage of England Scotland Ireland Great Britain and the United Kingdom Extant Extinct or Dormant new ed 1910 1959 reprint in 6 volumes Gloucester U K Alan Sutton Publishing 2000 volume III page 147 a b c Jacqueline Reiter July 2018 The invisible countess History Today 68 7 52 55 The Gentleman s Magazine and Historical Chronicle for the Year Edw Cave 1736 91 1868 93 1854 p 410 The Leisure Hour An Illustrated Magazine for Home Reading W Stevens Printer 1867 p 570 a b The Gentleman s Magazine W Pickering 1835 p 546 Victoria Purcell 7 April 2021 Mayfair s largest mansion goes on sale The Resident Retrieved 8 May 2021 The Gentleman s Magazine London England F Jefferies 1821 p 565 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Pitt Countess of Chatham amp oldid 1178147870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
