Catherine Sedley
Encyclopedia
Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester, Countess of Portmore (21 December 1657 – 26 October 1717), daughter of Sir Charles Sedley, 5th Baronet, was the mistress of King James VII and II
both before and after he came to the thrones. After his accession James yielded to pressure from his confessor Fr. Giffard, backed by Lord Sunderland and several Catholic councillors to put her away for a time. While James by his own account took Giffard's intervention " very kindly, he being a truly religious man " he told his councillors sharply " not to meddle in things that in no way related to them."
She was created Countess of Dorchester
for life in 1686, an elevation which aroused much indignation and compelled Catherine to reside for a time in Ireland
. In 1696 she married Sir David Colyear, Bt.
, who was created Earl of Portmore
in 1703, and she was thus the mother of Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore
. She died at Bath on 26 October 1717, when her life peerage became extinct.
Cathernie was not noted for beauty but was witty and sharp-tongued; after the Revolution of 1688 when Queen Mary refused to receive her at Court, Catherine inquired how Mary, who had broken the commandment to honour her father was in any way better than Catherine who had broken the commandment against adultery.
By James II, Lady Dorchester had a daughter Lady Catherine Darnley (d. 1743), who married James Annesley, 3rd Earl of Anglesey
, and after his death married John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby
. Through Catherine, her daughter by her first husband, she was the ancestress of the Barons Mulgrave
and of the Mitford sisters. Through her son, Charles, Lord Portmore, she was the grandmother of Elizabeth Collier, wife of Dr Erasmus Darwin
, the physician, scientist and poet.
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James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
both before and after he came to the thrones. After his accession James yielded to pressure from his confessor Fr. Giffard, backed by Lord Sunderland and several Catholic councillors to put her away for a time. While James by his own account took Giffard's intervention " very kindly, he being a truly religious man " he told his councillors sharply " not to meddle in things that in no way related to them."
She was created Countess of Dorchester
Earl of Dorchester
Earl of Dorchester, in the County of Dorset, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1792 for Joseph Damer, 1st Baron Milton. He was a politician but is best remembered for the reshaping of Milton Abbey and the creation of the village of Milton Abbas in Dorset...
for life in 1686, an elevation which aroused much indignation and compelled Catherine to reside for a time in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In 1696 she married Sir David Colyear, Bt.
David Colyear, 1st Earl of Portmore
General David Colyear, 1st Earl of Portmore KT PC was a Scottish general and Governor of Gibraltar-Military career:...
, who was created Earl of Portmore
Earl of Portmore
Earl of Portmore was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1703 for the Scottish military commander David Colyear, 1st Lord Portmore. He had already been created Lord Portmore in 1699 and was made Lord Colyear and Viscount of Milsington at the same time as he was granted the...
in 1703, and she was thus the mother of Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore
Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore
Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore KT was a Scottish nobleman, known as Beau Colyear for his conspicuous dress....
. She died at Bath on 26 October 1717, when her life peerage became extinct.
Cathernie was not noted for beauty but was witty and sharp-tongued; after the Revolution of 1688 when Queen Mary refused to receive her at Court, Catherine inquired how Mary, who had broken the commandment to honour her father was in any way better than Catherine who had broken the commandment against adultery.
By James II, Lady Dorchester had a daughter Lady Catherine Darnley (d. 1743), who married James Annesley, 3rd Earl of Anglesey
James Annesley, 3rd Earl of Anglesey
James Annesley, 3rd Earl of Anglesey , succeeded to his Earldom on his father's death in 1690. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in 1690. His mother was Lady Elizabeth Manners, daughter of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland...
, and after his death married John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby
John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby
John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, KG, PC , was a poet and notable Tory politician of the late Stuart period, who served as Lord Privy Seal and Lord President of the Council.-Career:...
. Through Catherine, her daughter by her first husband, she was the ancestress of the Barons Mulgrave
Baron Mulgrave
Baron Mulgrave is a title that has been created three times for members of the Phipps family, once in the Peerage of Ireland and twice in the Peerage of Great Britain....
and of the Mitford sisters. Through her son, Charles, Lord Portmore, she was the grandmother of Elizabeth Collier, wife of Dr Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin
Erasmus Darwin was an English physician who turned down George III's invitation to be a physician to the King. One of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, he was also a natural philosopher, physiologist, slave trade abolitionist,inventor and poet...
, the physician, scientist and poet.
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