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Maria Emily Fagniani (1771-1856)
daughter of William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry
and Donna Constanza Brusati
Born 24 August 1771
Died 2 March 1856 Paris
Married 18 May 1798 Southampton
Francis Charles Seymour-Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford
Born 11 March 1777
Died 1 March 1842 London, Dorchester Lodge
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In the coarse days of George III when many of the rich often led disgraceful
lives, the most notorious man of pleasure was the 4th Duke of Queensberry,
popularly known as "Old Q" by reason of the initial letter boldly painted
on his carriage. Fabulously wealthy and a
bachelor, he was supposed to have a harem in his mansion in Piccadilly.
His health remained unimpaired to the last decade of his long life, while
his speciality was young operatic performers, usually of Italian origin,
whose professed ages ranged from fifteen upwards.
Among those who succeeded to take possession temporarily of both his
hearth and purse were the Contessa Rena and the Marchesa Fagnani. Donna
Constanza Brusati, daughter of Marchese Gianpietro Brusati, had, before
marrying the Marchese Giacomo Fagnani, performed as a singer and dancer
in the Italian opera. However, both Constanza and her
husband were free-and-easy and soon indulged in amours. They met up
with Lord Pembroke who became Constanza's lover until, in 1769, she was
passed on to Lord March, the future 4th Duke of Queensberry, "Old Q".
On 24 August 1771 Maria Emily Fagnani was born and, as Constanza wanted
to continue enjoying her life, Lord March as a doting father brought up
the child. When she had grown up, Lord March, by now Duke of Queensberry,
wanted her to marry Francis Charles Seymour-Conway, Earl of Yarmouth and
future Marquess of Hertford, even though he knew
the Earl to be a wastrel with a limited allowance and would do anything
to obtain money.
He hinted to Lord Yarmouth that his daughter's husband would find him
a generous father-in-law and could expect a great inheritance upon his
own death. As a result Lord Yarmouth and "Mie-Mie", as his daughter was
known, eloped to Southampton and married there on 18 May 1798. A marriage
of convenience for both, it was very much frowned
upon by the Seymour family who for a while refused to acknowledge her.
The newly married couple lived together for about three years in which
time they produced a daughter and a son, after which they moved to Paris.
Here her husband soon had a mistress, Madame Visconti.
Meanwhile "Mie-Mie" befriended Madame Talleyrand while Talleyrand himself
was friends with both Lord and Lady Yarmouth. After a while Lord Yarmouth
returned to London alone.
She continued to enjoy herself in Paris and in 1804 found she was pregnant.
As Lord Yarmouth had been with his wife for a while, he passed as the father
of Lord Henry Seymour. However, it is more likely that the father was Comte
Casimir de Montrond.
It took until 1809 before "Old Q" could be induced to make his will;
but from that moment on he continued adding to or qualifying his testament
until a few weeks before his death on 23 December 1810. He left all his
freehold and copyhold estates to Lord and Lady Yarmouth
for their lives, and then for life of the survivor of them; after their
death it was to go to their first-born, Lady Frances. Apart from this,
Lord Yarmouth, Lady Frances and Lord Henry each received œ50,000 while
Lady Yarmouth was to receive œ100,000.
"Mie-Mie" had continued to live in France and in 1811 was again joined
by her husband who tried to reconcile with her, but she had no wish to
return to England. However, Lord Yarmouth began to take more interest in
his son-and-heir, Lord Beauchamp, who for a while lived with his father
in England.
In 1822 "Mie-Mie" lost her daughter who had married the Marquis de
Chevign‚ only a few months before. In the same year her father-in-law also
died and she became Marchioness of Hertford. However, in 1824 a young boy,
Richard Jackson, appeared in her household. She called him "my dear nephew"
and he would call her "Tante Mie-Mie"; but in fact he
was her grandson, Lord Beauchamp's son. "Mie-Mie" was a warm-hearted,
loving mother and her sons always remained close to her. When over eighty
her grandson, Richard, looked after her when she was ill. Eighteen years
before her death she had made a will, which remained unaltered, leaving
her possessions equally divided between her two sons. She died in Paris
on 2 March 1856 aged almost eighty-five.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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