Louisa Montagu, Countess of Sandwich
Encyclopedia
Lady Louisa Mary Anne Julia Harriet Lowry-Corry, Countess of Sandwich (3 April 1781 – 19 April 1862) was an Irish noblewoman and society figure, who in 1804 became the wife of George Montagu, 6th Earl of Sandwich
.
She posed for artists including Sir Thomas Lawrence
, and her bust was sculpted by Antonio Canova
.
and Lady Harriet Hobart, daughter of John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire
, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
. She had one half brother, Somerset Lowry-Corry, 2nd Earl Belmore
by her father's first marriage to Lady Margaret Butler. She most likely spent part of her early years at Castle Coole
, County Fermanagh
which her father had rebuilt in 1789.
Her parents' marriage was dissolved by an Act of Parliament
in 1793, and the following year her mother married William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian
and by him had four additional children. Her father subsequently took Mary Anne Caldwell as his third wife. As a result of her parents' divorce, Louisa was sent to be brought up with one of her relatives, Lady Castlereagh.
for Huntingdonshire
. He succeeded as 6th Earl of Sandwich in 1814, and from that time onwards, Louisa was styled the Countess of Sandwich.
Together they had two daughters and one son, who would succeed his father in the earldom:
, Louisa moved to the Continent
, where she spent many years in the former home of Talleyrand in the Rue de St Florentin in Paris
. Afterwards, she retired to a mansion in the Rue de Tivoli.
She was compelled to return to England following the Revolutions of 1848
which engulfed France and the rest of continental Europe.
She is referred to in a letter written by Thomas Carlyle
to his mother on 3 September 1848, in which he describes her as having been: "brisk-talking, friendly and an entertaining character". He goes on to say that she "has been beautiful" at one time; with "plenty of money, fair health, but nothing to do".
Louisa died on 19 April 1862 at the age of 81, and was buried in Bronwell.
sculptor Antonio Canova
. She was also the subject of at least three portraits; one was an allegorical portrait painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence
in which she is represented as Hope.It is displayed at the La Salle University Art Museum.
George Montagu, 6th Earl of Sandwich
George John Montagu, 6th Earl of Sandwich was the son of John Montagu, 5th Earl of Sandwich and Lady Mary Henrietta Powlett. He was styled Viscount Hinchingbrooke from 1790 to 1814...
.
She posed for artists including Sir Thomas Lawrence
Thomas Lawrence
Thomas Lawrence may refer to:*Sir Thomas Lawrence, British artist, President of Royal Academy*Thomas Lawrence , mayor of colonial Philadelphia*T. E. Lawrence, "Lawrence of Arabia"*Thomas Lawrence , U.S. politician...
, and her bust was sculpted by Antonio Canova
Antonio Canova
Antonio Canova was an Italian sculptor from the Republic of Venice who became famous for his marble sculptures that delicately rendered nude flesh...
.
Family
Lady Louisa was born on 3 April 1781 in Ireland, the daughter of Irish peer and politician Armar Lowry-Corry, 1st Earl BelmoreArmar Lowry-Corry, 1st Earl Belmore
Armar Lowry-Corry, 1st Earl Belmore was an Irish nobleman and politician.He was born Armar Lowry, the first son of Galbraith Lowry MP, of Ahenis, County Tyrone by his wife Sarah Corry, second daughter and eventual co-heiress of Colonel John Corry MP, of Castle Coole, County Fermanagh.-Public...
and Lady Harriet Hobart, daughter of John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire
John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire
John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire was an English nobleman and politician.The son of John Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire by his first marriage, he was educated at Westminster School and Christ's College, Cambridge. He was Member of Parliament for Norwich from 1747–56, having also been...
, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. She had one half brother, Somerset Lowry-Corry, 2nd Earl Belmore
Somerset Lowry-Corry, 2nd Earl Belmore
Somerset Lowry-Corry, 2nd Earl Belmore , styled The Honourable from 1781 to 1797 and then known as Viscount Corry to 1802, was an Irish nobleman and politician.-Politics and inheritance:...
by her father's first marriage to Lady Margaret Butler. She most likely spent part of her early years at Castle Coole
Castle Coole
Castle Coole is a townland and a late-18th-century neo-classical mansion situated in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.Set in a 1200 acre wooded estate, it is one of three properties owned and managed by the National Trust in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court and the...
, County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
which her father had rebuilt in 1789.
Her parents' marriage was dissolved by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in 1793, and the following year her mother married William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian
William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian
William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian KT was the son of William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian.He married, firstly, Lady Harriet Hobart-Hampden, a younger daughter of 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire , on 14 April 1793...
and by him had four additional children. Her father subsequently took Mary Anne Caldwell as his third wife. As a result of her parents' divorce, Louisa was sent to be brought up with one of her relatives, Lady Castlereagh.
Marriage and issue
Lady Louisa married on 9 July 1804, George John Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, MPMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
. He succeeded as 6th Earl of Sandwich in 1814, and from that time onwards, Louisa was styled the Countess of Sandwich.
Together they had two daughters and one son, who would succeed his father in the earldom:
- Lady Harriet Mary Montagu (14 May 1805 – 4 May 1857), married William Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton.
- Lady Catherine Caroline Montagu (7 October 1808 – 30 April 1834), married Count Alexandre Joseph Colonna-Walewski, an illegitimate son of Napoleon INapoleon INapoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
and Marie, Countess WalewskiMarie, Countess WalewskiMaria Countess Walewska was a Polish noblewoman and a mistress of Emperor Napoleon. In her later years she married count Philippe Antoine d'Ornano, an influential Napoleonic officer....
. - John William Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich (8 November 1811 – 3 March 1884), married firstly Lady Mary Paget; married secondly Lady Blanche Egerton.
Widowhood
In 1818, following the death of her husband, who left her with a large jointureJointure
Jointure is, in law, a provision for a wife after the death of her husband. As defined by Sir Edward Coke, it is "a competent livelihood of freehold for the wife, of lands or tenements, to take effect presently in possession or profit after the death of her husband for the life of the wife at...
, Louisa moved to the Continent
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, where she spent many years in the former home of Talleyrand in the Rue de St Florentin in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Afterwards, she retired to a mansion in the Rue de Tivoli.
She was compelled to return to England following the Revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
which engulfed France and the rest of continental Europe.
She is referred to in a letter written by Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era.He called economics "the dismal science", wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and became a controversial social commentator.Coming from a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle was...
to his mother on 3 September 1848, in which he describes her as having been: "brisk-talking, friendly and an entertaining character". He goes on to say that she "has been beautiful" at one time; with "plenty of money, fair health, but nothing to do".
Louisa died on 19 April 1862 at the age of 81, and was buried in Bronwell.
In art
A bust of Lady Louisa was made by renowned VenetianVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
sculptor Antonio Canova
Antonio Canova
Antonio Canova was an Italian sculptor from the Republic of Venice who became famous for his marble sculptures that delicately rendered nude flesh...
. She was also the subject of at least three portraits; one was an allegorical portrait painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence
Thomas Lawrence
Thomas Lawrence may refer to:*Sir Thomas Lawrence, British artist, President of Royal Academy*Thomas Lawrence , mayor of colonial Philadelphia*T. E. Lawrence, "Lawrence of Arabia"*Thomas Lawrence , U.S. politician...
in which she is represented as Hope.It is displayed at the La Salle University Art Museum.