Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of Northumberland
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Percy, née Seymour, Duchess of Northumberland, heiress to the earldom of Northumberland and 2nd Baroness Percy (26 November 1716 – 5 December 1776) was a British
peeress
.
Elizabeth was the only daughter of the 7th Duke of Somerset
and his wife, Frances, a daughter of Henry Thynne
. On 16 July 1740, she married Sir Hugh Smithson, Bt
and they had two sons, Hugh
(1742-1817) and Algernon
(1750-1830). On her father's death in 1750, she inherited his barony of Percy
and her husband acquired from her father his earldom of Northumberland
by special remainder and changed his family name from Smithson to Percy that year. Sir Hugh's illegitimate son James Smithson
, otherwise Jacques Louis Macie, born in about 1764 to one of Elizabeth's cousins, bequeathed the fortune which established the Smithsonian Institution
.
In 1761, Elizabeth became a Lady of the Bedchamber
to Queen Charlotte
, a post she held until 1770. She became a duchess in 1766 when her husband was created Duke of Northumberland
, and on her death in 1776 her barony and the Earldom of Northumberland passed to her eldest son, Hugh
, who inherited his father's dukedom ten years later. He built Brizlee Tower
as one of a number of monuments to commemorate her.
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
peeress
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...
.
Elizabeth was the only daughter of the 7th Duke of Somerset
Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset
General Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset was the son of Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset and his wife, Elizabeth...
and his wife, Frances, a daughter of Henry Thynne
Henry Thynne (1675–1708)
Henry Thynne was an English gentleman and Tory Member of Parliament.Thynne was the eldest of the three sons of Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth , of Longleat, a substantial landowner in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, by his marriage to Lady Frances Finch, a daughter of Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl...
. On 16 July 1740, she married Sir Hugh Smithson, Bt
Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland
Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG, PC was an Engish peer, landowner and art patron.He was born Hugh Smithson, the son of Langdale Smithson and grandson of Sir Hugh Smithson, 3rd Baronet from whom he inherited the baronetcy in 1733...
and they had two sons, Hugh
Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland
Lieutenant-General Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, FRS was an officer in the British army and later a British peer...
(1742-1817) and Algernon
Algernon Percy, 1st Earl of Beverley
Algernon Percy, 1st Earl of Beverley, FSA was a British peer, known as Lord Algernon Percy from 1766–86....
(1750-1830). On her father's death in 1750, she inherited his barony of Percy
Baron Percy
The title Baron Percy has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The first, in 1066 a Feudal Barony rather than a peerage, became extinct in 1299. The second, in 1299, became extinct in 1517. The third, in 1557, became extinct in 1670. The present creation was in 1722, by writ of...
and her husband acquired from her father his earldom of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
by special remainder and changed his family name from Smithson to Percy that year. Sir Hugh's illegitimate son James Smithson
James Smithson
James Smithson, FRS, M.A. was a British mineralogist and chemist noted for having left a bequest in his will to the United States of America, to create "an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men" to be called the Smithsonian Institution.-Biography:Not much is known...
, otherwise Jacques Louis Macie, born in about 1764 to one of Elizabeth's cousins, bequeathed the fortune which established the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.
In 1761, Elizabeth became a Lady of the Bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the British Royal Household...
to Queen Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
, a post she held until 1770. She became a duchess in 1766 when her husband was created Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
, and on her death in 1776 her barony and the Earldom of Northumberland passed to her eldest son, Hugh
Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland
Lieutenant-General Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, FRS was an officer in the British army and later a British peer...
, who inherited his father's dukedom ten years later. He built Brizlee Tower
Brizlee Tower
Brizlee Tower is a Grade 1 listed folly tower set atop a hill in Hulne Park, the walled home park of the Duke of Northumberland in Alnwick, Northumberland...
as one of a number of monuments to commemorate her.