Georgiana Harcourt
Encyclopedia
Georgiana Charlotte Frances Harcourt (1807 - 29 October 1886 ) was the daughter of the Archbishop of York
. Her correspondence has been published, but she is primarily known for the novels of Gustav Freytag
and the theological works she translated from German
originals. Her husband, General Malcolm had a distinguished career in the British army.
, Cumberland
. She was the youngest daughter of 16 children of Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt
, the incumbent Bishop of Carlisle
, and his wife Anne née Leveson-Gower. She would later live at Bishopthorpe Palace
, the official residence of the Archbishop of York.
In 12 September 1835 when Princess Victoria
visited Harewood House
in Yorkshire with her mother, the Duchess of Kent
she attended the local church service. Georgiana's father preached the sermon at the local church and many local dignitaries attended from Leeds
and the surrounding area. On entering the church it was Henry Lascelles, the 4th Earl of Harewood
who accompanied the Duchess of Kent
, but the princess, and future Queen, was accompanied by Georgiana.
Harcourt corresponded with Wellington the Prime Minister
between 1838 and 1849 (before and after her 1845 marriage) and with Sydney Smith
within two years of his death. She was amongst the "most favoured of his fair correspondents". Sydney had been a clergyman under her father the Archbishop. He writes to her in a carefree style:
to Major General George Alexander Malcolm C.B. son of General Sir John Malcolm and Isabella Charlotte née Campbell.
Georgiana's husband had been given £500, made Lieutenant-Colonel and a Companion of the Order of the Bath
in 1842 after bringing the Treaty of Nanking
back to England. He was also given monies to cover his travelling expenses from China and a larger sum to cover his expenses on his return.
Georgiana died 29 October 1886 at their home in Sloan Street, Chelsea, London
Her husband led the 105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
from 10 March 1866. In 1881, General Malcolm was the Colonel of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
, second battalion. A post he held until 1890.
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
. Her correspondence has been published, but she is primarily known for the novels of Gustav Freytag
Gustav Freytag
Gustav Freytag was a German novelist and playwright.-Life:Freytag was born in Kreuzburg in Silesia...
and the theological works she translated from German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
originals. Her husband, General Malcolm had a distinguished career in the British army.
Biography
Harcourt was born shortly before her baptism on 27 July 1807 in DalstonDalston, Cumbria
Dalston is a large village and civil parish within the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England. It is situated on the B5299 road about four miles south-south-west of Carlisle city centre, and approximately five miles from Junction 42 of the M6 motorway.The village has a population of around...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
. She was the youngest daughter of 16 children of Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt
Edward Harcourt
Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt was an English clergyman who was Bishop of Carlisle from 1791 to 1807, and then Archbishop of York until his death....
, the incumbent Bishop of Carlisle
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
, and his wife Anne née Leveson-Gower. She would later live at Bishopthorpe Palace
Bishopthorpe Palace
Bishopthorpe Palace is a stately home and historic house at Bishopthorpe south of York in the City of York unitary authority and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England...
, the official residence of the Archbishop of York.
In 12 September 1835 when Princess Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
visited Harewood House
Harewood House
Harewood House is a country house located in Harewood , near Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a member of Treasure Houses of England, a marketing consortium for nine of the foremost stately homes in England...
in Yorkshire with her mother, the Duchess of Kent
Duchess of Kent
The Duchess of Kent is the title given to the wife of the Duke of Kent.Five women have held the title:* Jemima , daughter of Thomas Crewe, 2nd Baron Crewe, first wife of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent...
she attended the local church service. Georgiana's father preached the sermon at the local church and many local dignitaries attended from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and the surrounding area. On entering the church it was Henry Lascelles, the 4th Earl of Harewood
Henry Lascelles, 4th Earl of Harewood
Henry Thynne Lascelles, 4th Earl of Harewood was a British peer and the son of Henry Lascelles, 3rd Earl of Harewood....
who accompanied the Duchess of Kent
Duchess of Kent
The Duchess of Kent is the title given to the wife of the Duke of Kent.Five women have held the title:* Jemima , daughter of Thomas Crewe, 2nd Baron Crewe, first wife of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent...
, but the princess, and future Queen, was accompanied by Georgiana.
Harcourt corresponded with Wellington the Prime Minister
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
between 1838 and 1849 (before and after her 1845 marriage) and with Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
within two years of his death. She was amongst the "most favoured of his fair correspondents". Sydney had been a clergyman under her father the Archbishop. He writes to her in a carefree style:
"What a charming existence! To live in the midst of holy people; to know that nothing profane can approach you; to be certain that a Dissenter can no more more be found in the palace, than a snake in Ireland, or ripe fruit in Scotland. To have your society strong and undiluted by the laity to bid adieu to human learning; to feast on the Canons and to revel in the Thirty nine articles! Happy Georgiana!"
Family
She married on 4 December 1845 at Bishopthorpe, YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to Major General George Alexander Malcolm C.B. son of General Sir John Malcolm and Isabella Charlotte née Campbell.
Georgiana's husband had been given £500, made Lieutenant-Colonel and a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1842 after bringing the Treaty of Nanking
Treaty of Nanking
The Treaty of Nanking was signed on 29 August 1842 to mark the end of the First Opium War between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Qing Dynasty of China...
back to England. He was also given monies to cover his travelling expenses from China and a larger sum to cover his expenses on his return.
Georgiana died 29 October 1886 at their home in Sloan Street, Chelsea, London
Her husband led the 105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
The 105th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The King's Own Light Infantry ....
from 10 March 1866. In 1881, General Malcolm was the Colonel of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755. The regiment's traditions and history are now maintained by The Rifles.-The 51st Foot:...
, second battalion. A post he held until 1890.
Major works
- Luther's Letters to Women, Martin LutherMartin LutherMartin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, 1865, ed. Karl Zimmermann Trans. G. Malcolm ISBN 1430498641 Reprinted 2007 - Old German Theology a hundred years before the Reformation With a preface by Martin Luther. Translated from the German by Mrs. Malcolm 1854
- Pictures of German Life in the xvth, xvith, and xviith centuries ... Translated from the original by Gustav FreytagGustav FreytagGustav Freytag was a German novelist and playwright.-Life:Freytag was born in Kreuzburg in Silesia...
and Georgiana Malcolm - The Lost Manuscript Translated by Mrs. Malcolm. Novel by Gustav Freytag (1865)
- Debit and Credit Novel by Gustav Freytag translated by Georgiana Malcolm (1857)
- Our Forefathers Translated by Mrs. Malcolm Novel by Gustav Freytag (1873)