Anne, Duchess of Cumberland and Strathearn
Encyclopedia
Anne Horton,
Anne Horton, (née Anne Luttrell; later the Duchess of Cumberland and Strathearn, (24 January 1742 – 28 December 1808) was a member of the British Royal Family
, the wife of Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn.
, London
. She was the only daughter of Simon Luttrell
, later first Earl of Carhampton
, and his wife, Judith Maria Lawes.
Her father was a Member of the House of Commons
before being created Baron Irnham in 1768, Viscount Carhampton in 1781 and Earl of Carhampton
in 1785.
She later married Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, the sixth child of Frederick, Prince of Wales
and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, and a younger brother of George III
. Their marriage took place at Hertford Street in Mayfair
, London
on 2 October 1771.
George III did not approve of the marriage as Anne was a commoner and previously married. He later had the Royal Marriages Act 1772
passed to prevent any descendant of George II
marrying without the consent of the sovereign, a law which is still in force today.
Horace Walpole wrote "her coquetry was so active, so varied and yet so habitual, that it was difficult not to see through it and yet as difficult to resist it." While she was generally considered a great beauty,Walpole considered her merely " pretty", except for her eyes, which were enchanting. That her eyes were remarkably expressive is confirmed in the several portraits of Anne by Thomas Gainsborough
.
Anne Horton, (née Anne Luttrell; later the Duchess of Cumberland and Strathearn, (24 January 1742 – 28 December 1808) was a member of the British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
, the wife of Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn.
Early life
Anne was born in MaryleboneMarylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She was the only daughter of Simon Luttrell
Simon Luttrell, 1st Earl of Carhampton
Simon Luttrell, 1st Earl of Carhampton was a British politician and Irish nobleman.He was the second son of Col. Henry Luttrell, of Luttrellstown...
, later first Earl of Carhampton
Earl of Carhampton
Earl of Carhampton was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1785 for Simon Luttrell, 1st Viscount Carhampton. He had already been created Baron Irnham, of Luttrellstown in the County of Dublin, in 1768 and Viscount Carhampton, of Castlehaven in the County of Cork, in 1781, also in...
, and his wife, Judith Maria Lawes.
Her father was a Member of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
before being created Baron Irnham in 1768, Viscount Carhampton in 1781 and Earl of Carhampton
Earl of Carhampton
Earl of Carhampton was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1785 for Simon Luttrell, 1st Viscount Carhampton. He had already been created Baron Irnham, of Luttrellstown in the County of Dublin, in 1768 and Viscount Carhampton, of Castlehaven in the County of Cork, in 1781, also in...
in 1785.
Marriages
Anne was first married to a commoner, Christopher Horton (sometimes spelled Houghton) of Catton Hall, on 4 August 1765.She later married Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, the sixth child of Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales
Frederick, Prince of Wales was a member of the House of Hanover and therefore of the Hanoverian and later British Royal Family, the eldest son of George II and father of George III, as well as the great-grandfather of Queen Victoria...
and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, and a younger brother of George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. Their marriage took place at Hertford Street in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 2 October 1771.
George III did not approve of the marriage as Anne was a commoner and previously married. He later had the Royal Marriages Act 1772
Royal Marriages Act 1772
The Royal Marriages Act 1772 is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which prescribes the conditions under which members of the British Royal Family may contract a valid marriage, in order to guard against marriages that could diminish the status of the Royal House...
passed to prevent any descendant of George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
marrying without the consent of the sovereign, a law which is still in force today.
Character and appearance
Some sources describe Anne as being rather loose with her favours, given one wag's comment that she was "the Duke of Grafton's Mrs Houghton, the Duke of Dorset's Mrs Houghton, everyone's Mrs Houghton."Horace Walpole wrote "her coquetry was so active, so varied and yet so habitual, that it was difficult not to see through it and yet as difficult to resist it." While she was generally considered a great beauty,Walpole considered her merely " pretty", except for her eyes, which were enchanting. That her eyes were remarkably expressive is confirmed in the several portraits of Anne by Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
.
Titles and styles
- 24 January 1742 – 4 August 1765: Miss Anne Luttrell
- 4 August 1765 – 13 October 1768: Mrs Christopher Horton
- 13 October 1768 – 2 October 1771: The Honourable Mrs Horton
- 2 October 1771 – 28 December 1808: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cumberland and Strathearn