Elizabeth Herbert, Countess of Carnarvon

Elizabeth Herbert, Countess of Carnarvon (née Lady Elizabeth Alicia Maria Wyndham; bapt. 29 November 1752 – 10 February 1826) was an English noblewoman and the wife of Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon.[1]

She was the daughter of Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont, and his wife, Alicia. She married the Earl of Carnarvon on 15 July 1771, at St George's, Hanover Square, before he was raised to the peerage; he was then known as Henry Herbert, MP. She became "Lady Porchester of Highclere" in 1780 and a countess from 3 July 1793.[2] In 1795 she was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to Caroline of Brunswick,[3] then Princess of Wales and later, nominally, queen; she officially retained the position until Caroline's death, despite the princess's estrangement from her husband and absence from the country.

The earl and countess had six children:

A portrait of the countess and her son was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds.[4] She died at Petworth, Sussex, England, aged 73.

References

edit
  1. ^ G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume III, page 46.
  2. ^ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003.
  3. ^ The Lady's Magazine Or Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex ..., Volume 26. p. 157.
  4. ^ "Elizabeth Herbert (née Wyndham), Countess of Carnarvon and her son, Henry George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 19 January 2018.