Grace Dalrymple Elliott(1754–1823)Grace Elliott was a Scottish courtesan and spy who resided in Paris at the time of the French Revolution. Elliott was an eyewitness to events which she detailed in her memoirs, Journal of My Life during the French Revolution (Ma Vie Sous La Révolution) published posthumously in 1859. During her lifetime she also served as the mistress … Continue reading Regency Woman Wednesday – Grace Elliot →

William Arden, 2nd Baron Alvanley (8 January 1789 – 16 November 1849)William Arden was a British Army officer, peer and socialite, who was one of a close circle of young men surrounding the Prince Regent. Lord Alvanley was a prominent Regency buck and member of the Prince Regent's circle, and was friends with Beau Brummell. … Continue reading Regency Man Monday – William Arden →

Princess Dorothea von Lieven(December 17, 1785 - January 27, 1857)From her Wikipedia Page: Princess Dorothea von Lieven née Benckendorff was a Baltic German noblewoman and wife of Prince Khristofor Andreyevich Lieven, Russian ambassador to London, 1812 to 1834. She was also an influential figure among many of the diplomatic, political, and social circles of 19th-century … Continue reading Regency Woman Wednesday – Princess Lieven →

Anne Brontë (17 January 1820 – 28 May 1849)*I know she's not technically a Regency Woman. But Anne was born 12 days before the Regent became King. I wanted to do this post on Anne since we are reading her novel for this month's Reading Group*Anne Brontë was an English novelist and poet, the youngest member … Continue reading Regency Woman Wednesday – Anne Bronte →

Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough (16 June 1761 – 11 November 1821), Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough (16 June 1761 – 11 November 1821), born Lady Henrietta Frances Spencer (generally called Harriet), was the wife of Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough, and mother of the notorious Lady Caroline Lamb. Her father, John Spencer, 1st … Continue reading Regency Women Wednesday – Henrietta Ponsnby →

Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness Conyngham(31 July 1769 – 11 October 1861)Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness Conyngham was an English courtier and noblewoman. She was the last mistress of George IV of the United Kingdom. On 5 July 1794, Elizabeth married Henry Conyngham, Viscount Conyngham, an Irish peer. Despite her beauty, she was considered vulgar, shrewd, greedy, and unsuited to … Continue reading Regency Woman Wednesday – Elizabeth Conyngham →

Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington(1 September 1789 – 4 June 1849)Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington was an Irish novelist, journalist, and literary hostess. She became acquainted with Lord Byron in Genoa and wrote a book about him. Her childhood was made unhappy by her father's character and poverty, and her early womanhood wretched by a … Continue reading Regency Woman Wednesday – Marguerite Gardiner →

Mary Brunton(1 November 1778 – 7 December 1818) Mary Brunton was a Scottish novelist. She started to write her first novel, Self-Control in 1809 and it was published in 1811. Jane Austen had reservations, describing it in a letter as an "excellently-meant, elegantly-written work, without anything of Nature or Probability in it." Self-Control was widely … Continue reading Regency Woman Wednesday – Mary Brunton →

Elizabeth Armistead(11 July 1750 – 8 July 1842)Elizabeth was a courtesan and, later, the spouse of statesman and politician Charles James Fox. Her relationship with and marriage to Fox was one of the most famous and controversial of their age. Even as she supported herself with a string of wealthy lovers, Elizabeth Armistead maintained close … Continue reading Regency Woman Wednesday – Elizabeth Armistead →

Maria Edgeworth(1 January 1768 – 22 May 1849)Maria Edgeworth was a prolific Anglo-Irish writer of adults' and children's literature. She was one of the first realist writers in children's literature and was a significant figure in the evolution of the novel in Europe. She held advanced views, for a woman of her time, on estate … Continue reading Regency Woman Wednesday – Maria Edgeworth →