Winifred Maxwell, Countess of Nithsdale (née Lady Winifred Herbert; c. 1680–1749), was a British aristocrat, best known for arranging the daring escape of her husband, William Maxwell, 5th Earl of Nithsdale, from the Tower of London in 1716.
Her father was the 1st Marquess of Powis, and on 2 March 1699, she married the 5th Earl of Nithsdale, a Catholic nobleman. The couple had met at the French court, where Lady Winifred's father was in exile, while Nithsdale was paying his respects to the former King James II of England (James VII of Scotland). While resident at Terregles, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, the couple had five children.
In 1715, Nithsdale joined the Jacobite rebellion, but he was captured at the Battle of Preston and sent to the Tower of London. Having been tried for treason, he was sentenced to death. Winifred, who was at Terregles when she heard of the capture of her husband, followed him to London, making part of the journey on horseback in bitter winter weather. She presented a petition to George I which he refused to receive, and when she knelt before him and took hold of his coat he dragged her half across the room before he could break away. Knowing that there would be no pardon, the countess laid a meticulous plan to rescue her husband from the Tower of London.[1]
The night before the day appointed for William's execution (24 February 1716), with the help of two other Jacobite ladies, Winifred effected his escape from the Tower. She had been admitted to his room, and by exchanging clothes with her maid (including the "Nithsdale Cloak", which is still held by the family), he escaped the attention of his guards. He fled to France, while the countess returned to Scotland to ensure the transfer of the estate to their son. She joined him in to France, and they went from there to Rome in the retinue of the Old Pretender.[2] In Rome, she survived her husband by about five years.[3]
In literatureedit
The story of how Winifred Maxwell contrived her husband's escape from the Tower of London inspired James Hogg's Ballad of the Lord Maxwell first published in the Royal Lady's Magazine in October 1831.[4]
Referencesedit
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Nithsdale, William Maxwell, 5th Earl of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 711.
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Winifred Maxwell" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
March 16, 2024
winifred, maxwell, countess, nithsdale, née, lady, winifred, herbert, 1680, 1749, british, aristocrat, best, known, arranging, daring, escape, husband, william, maxwell, earl, nithsdale, from, tower, london, 1716, winifred, maxwellcountess, nithsdalebornwinifr. Winifred Maxwell Countess of Nithsdale nee Lady Winifred Herbert c 1680 1749 was a British aristocrat best known for arranging the daring escape of her husband William Maxwell 5th Earl of Nithsdale from the Tower of London in 1716 Winifred MaxwellCountess of NithsdaleBornWinifred Herbert c 1680Died1749 aged 68 69 Rome ItalyNoble familyHerbert by birth Maxwell by marriage Spouse s William Maxwell 5th Earl of Nithsdale m 1699 died 1744 wbr FatherWilliam Herbert 1st Marquess of PowisMotherLady Elizabeth SomersetHer father was the 1st Marquess of Powis and on 2 March 1699 she married the 5th Earl of Nithsdale a Catholic nobleman The couple had met at the French court where Lady Winifred s father was in exile while Nithsdale was paying his respects to the former King James II of England James VII of Scotland While resident at Terregles Dumfriesshire Scotland the couple had five children In 1715 Nithsdale joined the Jacobite rebellion but he was captured at the Battle of Preston and sent to the Tower of London Having been tried for treason he was sentenced to death Winifred who was at Terregles when she heard of the capture of her husband followed him to London making part of the journey on horseback in bitter winter weather She presented a petition to George I which he refused to receive and when she knelt before him and took hold of his coat he dragged her half across the room before he could break away Knowing that there would be no pardon the countess laid a meticulous plan to rescue her husband from the Tower of London 1 The night before the day appointed for William s execution 24 February 1716 with the help of two other Jacobite ladies Winifred effected his escape from the Tower She had been admitted to his room and by exchanging clothes with her maid including the Nithsdale Cloak which is still held by the family he escaped the attention of his guards He fled to France while the countess returned to Scotland to ensure the transfer of the estate to their son She joined him in to France and they went from there to Rome in the retinue of the Old Pretender 2 In Rome she survived her husband by about five years 3 In literature editThe story of how Winifred Maxwell contrived her husband s escape from the Tower of London inspired James Hogg s Ballad of the Lord Maxwell first published in the Royal Lady s Magazine in October 1831 4 References edit nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Nithsdale William Maxwell 5th Earl of Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 19 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 711 Chisholm 1911 Herbermann 1913 Hunter Adrian ed 2020 James Hogg Contributions to English Irish and American Periodicals Edinburgh University Press pp 68 76 amp 226 ISBN 9780748695980External links editHerbermann Charles ed 1913 Winifred Maxwell Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Winifred Maxwell Countess of Nithsdale amp oldid 1207529497, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
