Mary Osborne, Duchess of Leeds
Encyclopedia
Mary Osborne, Duchess of Leeds (1723 - 3 August 1764) (née Lady Mary Godolphin), daughter of Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough and Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin
. She was a granddaughter of the powerful government trio during the reign of Queen Anne
: the famous general and politician, John Churchill
, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and his wife Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough
, through her mother; and Sidney Godolphin
, 1st Earl of Godolphin
through her father.
Lady Mary was considered to be the illegitimate child of the famous playwright
, William Congreve
, who was having a long-term relationship with Henrietta, Duchess of Marlborough. She was, however, recognised by Francis as his own daughter, and was raised by him with the other Godolphin children. Despite this, gossip spread rapidly about Mary's true father, and her grandmother Sarah, Dowager Duchess of Marlborough
did not recognise her until 1740, when the two reconciled their differences. It was at this time that Sarah arranged her marriage, to Thomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds
, and the two were married on 26 June 1740. They had one child, Francis Godolphin Osborne
(styled Marquess of Carmarthen, who was later 5th Duke of Leeds
and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), who was born on 29 January 1751.
Mary died in 1764, aged 41.
Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin
Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, PC was a British politician, styled Viscount Rialton between 1706 and 1712.-Biography:...
. She was a granddaughter of the powerful government trio during the reign of Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
: the famous general and politician, John Churchill
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and his wife Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill , Duchess of Marlborough rose to be one of the most influential women in British history as a result of her close friendship with Queen Anne of Great Britain.Sarah's friendship and influence with Princess Anne was widely known, and leading public figures...
, through her mother; and Sidney Godolphin
Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin
Sir Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin, KG, PC was a leading English politician of the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
, 1st Earl of Godolphin
Earl of Godolphin
Earl of Godolphin was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1706 for Sidney Godolphin, 1st Baron Godolphin, the Lord High Treasurer. At the same time, he was created Viscount Rialton. In 1684 he had already been created Baron Godolphin, of Rialton, also in the Peerage of England...
through her father.
Lady Mary was considered to be the illegitimate child of the famous playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, William Congreve
William Congreve
William Congreve was an English playwright and poet.-Early life:Congreve was born in Bardsey, West Yorkshire, England . His parents were William Congreve and his wife, Mary ; a sister was buried in London in 1672...
, who was having a long-term relationship with Henrietta, Duchess of Marlborough. She was, however, recognised by Francis as his own daughter, and was raised by him with the other Godolphin children. Despite this, gossip spread rapidly about Mary's true father, and her grandmother Sarah, Dowager Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
Sarah Churchill , Duchess of Marlborough rose to be one of the most influential women in British history as a result of her close friendship with Queen Anne of Great Britain.Sarah's friendship and influence with Princess Anne was widely known, and leading public figures...
did not recognise her until 1740, when the two reconciled their differences. It was at this time that Sarah arranged her marriage, to Thomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds
Thomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds
Thomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds KG, PC, DL, FRS , styled Earl of Danby from birth until 1729 and subsequently Marquess of Carmarthen until 1731, was a British peer, politician and judge.-Background:...
, and the two were married on 26 June 1740. They had one child, Francis Godolphin Osborne
Francis Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds
Francis Godolphin Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds KG, PC , styled Marquess of Carmarthen until 1789, was a British politician...
(styled Marquess of Carmarthen, who was later 5th Duke of Leeds
Duke of Leeds
Duke of Leeds was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1694 for the prominent statesman Thomas Osborne, 1st Marquess of Carmarthen...
and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), who was born on 29 January 1751.
Mary died in 1764, aged 41.