Elizabeth Killigrew, Viscountess Shannon
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Killigrew was an English peeress
and courtier
. One of the many mistresses
of Charles II of England
, she was also the sister of Thomas Killigrew
and the wife of Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon
. She had a daughter with the king, Charlotte, Countess of Yarmouth.
and sister of Thomas Killigrew
, the dramatist who joined Charles II
during his period of exile and later became Master of the Revels
. She came to the king's attention through her position as maid-of-honour to Henrietta Maria of France
(Charles II's mother), and circa 1650 bore King Charles a daughter, Charlotte Jemima Henrietta Maria FitzRoy (1650–1684).
In 1660, the year of the Restoration of the monarchy, she married Francis Boyle
, who was created the 1st Viscount Shannon
the same year (1660).
Her daughter was married firstly to James Howard (the grandson of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
), and secondly in 1672 to William Paston, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth
.
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
. One of the many mistresses
Royal mistress
A royal mistress is the historical position of a mistress to a monarch or senior Royal. Some mistresses have had considerable power. The prevalence of the institution can be attributed to the fact that royal marriages were until recent times conducted solely on the basis of political and dynastic...
of Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, she was also the sister of Thomas Killigrew
Thomas Killigrew
Thomas Killigrew was an English dramatist and theatre manager. He was a witty, dissolute figure at the court of King Charles II of England.-Life and work:...
and the wife of Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon
Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon
Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon : the Hon. Francis Boyle, fourth son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork was created a Viscount in 1660. He married Elizabeth Killigrew, the sister of Thomas Killigrew, the dramatist who joined Charles II during his period of exile and later became Master of the...
. She had a daughter with the king, Charlotte, Countess of Yarmouth.
Life
Baptised on 16 May 1622, she was the daughter of Sir Robert KilligrewRobert Killigrew
Sir Robert Killigrew was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1601 and 1629. He served as Ambassador the the United Provinces.-Life:...
and sister of Thomas Killigrew
Thomas Killigrew
Thomas Killigrew was an English dramatist and theatre manager. He was a witty, dissolute figure at the court of King Charles II of England.-Life and work:...
, the dramatist who joined Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
during his period of exile and later became Master of the Revels
Master of the Revels
The Master of the Revels was a position within the English, and later the British, royal household heading the "Revels Office" or "Office of the Revels" that originally had responsibilities for overseeing royal festivities, known as revels, and later also became responsible for stage censorship,...
. She came to the king's attention through her position as maid-of-honour to Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
(Charles II's mother), and circa 1650 bore King Charles a daughter, Charlotte Jemima Henrietta Maria FitzRoy (1650–1684).
In 1660, the year of the Restoration of the monarchy, she married Francis Boyle
Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon
Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon : the Hon. Francis Boyle, fourth son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork was created a Viscount in 1660. He married Elizabeth Killigrew, the sister of Thomas Killigrew, the dramatist who joined Charles II during his period of exile and later became Master of the...
, who was created the 1st Viscount Shannon
Viscount Shannon
Viscount Shannon, in the County of Limerick, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1660 for the Honourable Francis Boyle, fourth son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork. He was succeeded by his grandson, the second Viscount. He was a Field Marshal in the Army and served as...
the same year (1660).
Her daughter was married firstly to James Howard (the grandson of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, KG was an English nobleman and politician.Born at the family estate of Saffron Walden, he was the son of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, by his second wife Catherine Knyvet of Charlton, and succeeded his father in 1626.Sir Theophilus Howard was named in...
), and secondly in 1672 to William Paston, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth
William Paston, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth
William Paston, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth was a British peer and politician.Born in 1654, he was the son of Robert Paston, 1st Earl of Yarmouth and his wife, Rebecca, née Clayton. In 1671, he married the widowed Charlotte Howard, née FitzRoy , the illegitimate daughter of Charles II and Elizabeth...
.