Lady Frances Brudenell
Encyclopedia
Lady Frances Brudenell (born before 1677, d. 23 February 1735/36), Countess of Newburgh, daughter of Francis Brudenell, Lord Brudenell and Lady Frances Savile.
She was famous for ruling "a social circle of tribades
in Dublin" in the early 1730s; her primary lover being Lady Allen. She was herself bisexual.
She was the subject of a debt action brought by an Oxford don, William King, who alleged she owed him several thousand pounds. He lost the case and in revenge, in 1732, wrote a satire against her, entitled "The Toast", which portrays her as "a promiscuous bisexual witch and lesbian named "Myra"". It is notable for an early use of the word lesbian
in the modern sense.
She married twice, first to Charles Livingston, 2nd Earl of Newburgh
(becoming Countess of Newburgh), then to Richard Bellew, 3rd Baron Bellew of Duleek
(becoming Baroness Bellew of Duleek).
She had two children, a daughter, Charlotte Maria Livingston (1694-1755), and a son, John Bellew, 4th Baron Bellew of Duleek (1702-1770).
She died on 23 February 1735/36 in Dublin, Ireland, and was buried in St. Audoen's Church
, Dublin.
She was famous for ruling "a social circle of tribades
Tribadism
Tribadism or tribbing, commonly known by its scissoring position, is a form of non-penetrative sex in which a woman rubs her vulva against her partner's body for sexual stimulation. This may involve female-to-female genital contact or a female rubbing her vulva against her partner's thigh, stomach,...
in Dublin" in the early 1730s; her primary lover being Lady Allen. She was herself bisexual.
She was the subject of a debt action brought by an Oxford don, William King, who alleged she owed him several thousand pounds. He lost the case and in revenge, in 1732, wrote a satire against her, entitled "The Toast", which portrays her as "a promiscuous bisexual witch and lesbian named "Myra"". It is notable for an early use of the word lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
in the modern sense.
She married twice, first to Charles Livingston, 2nd Earl of Newburgh
Earl of Newburgh
The title Earl of Newburgh was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1660 for James Livingston, 1st Viscount of Newburgh, along with the subsidiary titles Viscount of Kynnaird and Lord Levingston....
(becoming Countess of Newburgh), then to Richard Bellew, 3rd Baron Bellew of Duleek
Baron Bellew of Duleek
Baron Bellew of Duleek was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 29 October 1686 for Sir John Bellew, as a reward for his support for James II. He was outlawed after the Glorious Revolution and the accession of William and Mary, a decision that was later reversed. Two of his sons,...
(becoming Baroness Bellew of Duleek).
She had two children, a daughter, Charlotte Maria Livingston (1694-1755), and a son, John Bellew, 4th Baron Bellew of Duleek (1702-1770).
She died on 23 February 1735/36 in Dublin, Ireland, and was buried in St. Audoen's Church
St. Audoen's Church
St. Audoen's Church is the church of the parish of St. Audoen in the Church of Ireland, located south of the River Liffey at Cornmarket in Dublin, Ireland. This was close to the centre of the medieval city. The parish is in the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough. St. Audoen's is the oldest parish...
, Dublin.