Letters of Harriet, Countess Granville, 1810-1845: Edited By Her Son the Hon, F. Leveson Gower, Vol. 1 of 2 (Classic Reprint)

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As a beauty, Harriet attracted many young suitors and admirers—not just Granville. One of her younger admirers, William Lamb, for example, was hungry for some Harriet, that is, until he met and fell in love with Harriet’s daughter, Caroline. The Irish writer sent her anonymous letters with an ominous tone. Of course, Harriet immediately recognized the handwriting behind these passionate threats.

Lady Georgiana Charlotte Leveson-Gower (23 September 1812 – 19 January 1885); in 1833, she married Alexander Fullerton. As the Duchess of Devonshire, she garnered much attention and fame in society during her lifetime. [1] [2] With a preeminent position in the peerage of England, the Duchess was famous for her charisma, political influence, beauty, unusual marital arrangement, love affairs, socializing, and notorious for her gambling addiction, leading to an immense debt. Much like Harriet's parents, Duncannon had a bad gambling habit that he couldn’t control. He only seemed to love Harriet when the cards were running in his favor—but, when they weren’t, Harriet suffered the worst of his maltreatment. The historian Lord David Cecil called Harriet Spencer a woman of "indescribable distinction”. She was also a woman of indescribable hardship. In the end, Harriet likely suffered so much at the hands of her family and flings because she loved them so much. In her own tragic words, she said, “I can never love anyone just a little”. Additionally, everyone knew that Duncannon’s branch of the Cavendish family was heavily indebted—and this kind of poverty was contagious.Artwork representing the Duchess of Devonshire by reputable painters of the Georgian era remain, including a 1787 portrait by the famed Thomas Gainsborough which was once thought lost. The Duke had predicted their first child would be a girl and was disappointed, though the Duchess asserted that at least it proved her capable of bearing a son. [5] The Devonshire title and wealth was still destined to pass to a separate branch of the family unless the couple produced a male heir. [8] A sister, Harriet, was born two years later; [9] the two sisters would remain close all their lives. [10] In 1790 the Duke and Duchess finally had a son, William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington. [2] In a fit of rage, Duncannon threatened to divorce Harriet. Despite the fact that he had been a bad husband (maybe the worst ever), the divorce would have ruined Harriet and she would have become a social pariah. Despite the fact that they had two children together, Harriet knew that her affair with Granville couldn’t go on forever. She knew that, eventually, Granville would have to marry for the sake of his reputation and career—and he couldn’t very well marry her. She just didn’t think that he would marry the younger version of her. Before their marriage, the Duke had fathered an illegitimate daughter, Charlotte Williams, born from a dalliance with a former milliner, Charlotte Spencer (of no relation to the House of Spencer). [6] This was unknown to the Duchess until years after her marriage to the Duke. After the death of the child's mother, the Duchess was compelled to raise Charlotte herself. [3] Georgiana was "very pleased" with Charlotte, although her own mother Lady Spencer expressed disapproval: "I hope you have not talk'd of her to people". The besotted Georgiana replied, "She is the best humoured little thing you ever saw". [6]

While there is no evidence of when Georgiana began her affair with Charles Grey (later Earl Grey), she did become pregnant by him in 1791. Sent off to France, Georgiana believed she would die in childbirth. Despondent, she wrote a letter to her recently born son stating, "As soon as you are old enough to understand this letter, it will be given to you. It contains the only present I can make you—my blessing, written in my blood...Alas, I am gone before you could know me, but I lov'd you, I nurs'd you nine months at my breast. I love you dearly." On 20 February 1792, Eliza Courtney was born without complications. Georgiana's heart was broken yet again when she was forced to give away her illegitimate daughter Eliza to Grey's family. [3] [6] Georgiana would later be allowed to pay visits to her daughter, providing her with presents and affection, [6] and Eliza would grow up to marry Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Ellice and bear a daughter named Georgiana. [ citation needed] Beauty — A natural compliment", The Every-day Book and Table Book. Vol III., ed. William Hone (London: 1838), p. 344. Retrieved on 11 June 2008. Haley, Aidan (30 January 2014). "Timeline of the Cavendish family and some of their principal properties" (PDF). chatsworth.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016 . Retrieved 26 April 2015.Lady Harriet Elizabeth Georgina Howard (21 May 1806 – 27 October 1868) she married George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland on 28 May 1823. They have eleven children. Unsure of what to do, he wrote to their mother saying, “Harriet was quite at a loss, as well she might, and was very apprehensive of the consequences of his disappointment”. Her mother, however, was less concerned. Her second biggest—and by far her most ruinous—affair was with the Irish writer, charmer and theater owner, Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

George Arundel Stewart's life remains more mysterious. [23] George Arundel Stewart travelled a lot and would bring gifts, Indian turbans, shawls, fans, and a chess set, from Asia and India. [24] George Arundel Stewart was personable and sociable. [25] Yet, he never married, and his half-siblings adore him. [26] When the family was about to disembark from Ramsgate, George Arundel Stewart would wrap his coat to around his siblings and carry his siblings along the pier to the inn. [27] George Arundel Stewart became his father’s private secretary. [28] They were fond of each other and travel together for six months in Spain in 1847. [29] George Arundel Stewart died in 1875. [30]George Godolphin Osborne, 9th Duke of Leeds (11 August 1828 – 23 December 1895); married the Honourable Frances Georgiana Pitt-Rivers, daughter of George Pitt-Rivers, 4th Baron Rivers. Using her influence as a leading socialite and fashion icon, the Duchess of Devonshire contributed to politics, science, and literature. As part of her illustrious social engagements, the Duchess would gather around her a large salon of literary and political figures. Among her major acquaintances were the most influential figures of her time, including the Prince of Wales (later King George IV); Marie Antoinette of France; and her favourite in court, the Duchess of Polignac; Charles Grey (later Earl Grey and British Prime Minister); and Lady Melbourne (lover of the Prince of Wales). [20] Newspapers chronicled her every appearance and activity. [6] The Devonshire marriage was contentious; they had little in common and the Duchess had difficulty bringing her pregnancies to term – their initial nine years together were childless. [5] [6] Seeking distraction from an unhappy match, she spent her time socialising and gambling. She became a prominent supporter and hostess of the Whig Party, as well as a leader of fashion. [5] [7] By the mid-1780s, Devonshire House had become the centre of fashionable life in the Georgian era. [8] [9] Elizabeth Foster, who began living with the Cavendishes in 1782, encouraged the Duchess to pursue a healthier lifestyle, which likely contributed to the successful births of Harriet and her elder sister, Georgiana. [5] The birth of the long-desired heir, Harriet's brother William, arrived in 1790 after 16 years of marriage. [10] [11] Harriet’s mother eventually grew tired of her youngest daughter’s sad disposition and thought that “foreign air” might cure her. The consequences were stunning.

Over 1,000 personal letters written by the Duchess of Devonshire remain in existence. Chatsworth, the duke of Devonshire's seat, houses a majority of her letters in historical archives. [6] Despite her many reservations and concerns, Harriet married Duncannon in November 1780. Right from the beginning, however, the marriage was a total nightmare. She was called a "phenomenon" [7] by Horace Walpole who proclaimed, "[she] effaces all without being a beauty; but her youthful figure, flowing good nature, sense and lively modesty, and modest familiarity make her a phenomenon". [21] Madame d'Arblay, who had a preference for acquaintances of talent, found that her appeal was not generally for her beauty but for far more, which included her fine "manner, politeness, and gentle quiet." [21] Sir Nathaniel Wraxall stated that her success as an individual lay "in the amenity and graces of her deportment, in her irresistible manners, and the seduction of her society." [21]In public places wherever she went, Sheridan would follow her and confront her. On several occasions, he made public scenes, admonishing her for not reciprocating his adoration and making declarations of his fervent love for her. Harriet’s father was the great-grandson and principal inheritor of the fabulously wealthy Duchess of Marlborough, Sarah Churchill. Allegedly, he inherited by far and away the largest fortune in all of England along with a terrible and unpredictable temper. Not that Harriet spent too much time around him anyway to experience it first-hand. Lewis, Judith S. Sacred to Female Patriotism: Gender, Class, and Politics in Late Georgian Britain. New York: Routledge, 2003.