Biography of Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore 1657-1717

On 9th December 1657 [her father] Charles Sedley 5th Baronet [aged 18] and [her mother] Catherine Savage were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] John Savage 2nd Earl Rivers and [her grandmother] Catherine Parker.

On 21st December 1657 Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore was born to [her father] Charles Sedley 5th Baronet [aged 18] and [her mother] Catherine Savage.

In 1670 [her mother] Catherine Savage died at a convent in Ghent, apparently insane.

John Evelyn's Diary. 13th June 1673. Came to visit us, with other ladies of rank, Mrs. Sedley [aged 15], daughter to [her father] Sir Charles [aged 34], who was none of the most virtuous, but a wit. [Note. Her age somewhat curious as does her title Mrs but Ms was not in common usage then. There are no other Sir Charles Sedley other than Charles Sedley 5th Baronet.].

Before 1676 Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 18] became the mistress of James, Duke of York [aged 42].

In 1680 [her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Darnley Duchess Buckingham and Normandby was born illegitimately to James Duke of York [aged 46] and Catherine Sedley [aged 22].

In 1684 [her illegitimate son] James Darnley was born illegitimately to James, Duke of York [aged 50] and Catherine Sedley [aged 26].

In 1684 Godfrey Kneller [aged 37]. Portrait of Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 26].

1685. Peter Cross [aged 40]. Miniature portrait of Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 27].

In or after 1685 [her illegitimate son] Charles Darnley was born illegitimately to King James II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 51] and Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 27]. He died young.

On 22nd April 1685 [her illegitimate son] James Darnley [aged 1] died.

In 1686 Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 28] was created 1st Countess Dorchester for life by King James II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 52] for services as his mistress. Her father Charles Sedley 5th Baronet [aged 46] quipped "As the king has made my daughter a countess, the least I can do, in common gratitude, is to assist in making his Majesty's daughter [aged 23] a queen".

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th January 1686. Passed the Privie Seale, amongst others, the creation of Mrs. Sedley J (concubine to) Countesse of Dorchester [aged 28], which the Queene took very grievously [aged 27], so as for two dinners, standing neere her I observed she hardly eate one morsel, nor spake one word to the King [aged 52], or to any about her, tho' at other times she us'd to be extreamly pleasant, full of discourse and good humour. The Roman Catholics were also very angry, because they had so long valu'd the sanctity of their religion and proselytes. Dryden [aged 54] the famous playwriter, and his two sonns, and Mrs. Nelly [aged 35] (Misse to ye late) were said to go to masse; such proselytes were no greate losse to the church. This night was burnt to the ground my Lord Mountague's palace in Bloomsbury, than wch for painting and furniture there was nothing more glorious in England. This happen'd by the negligence of a servant, airing, as they call it, some of the goods by the fire in a moist season; indeede so wet and mild a winter had scarce ben seene in man's memory. At this Seale there also pass'd the creation of Sr H. Walgrave [aged 25] to be a Peere. He had married one of the King's natural daughters [aged 19] by Mrs. Churchill. These two Seales my brother Commissioners pass'd in the morning before I came to towne, at. wch I was not displeas'd. We likewise pass'd Privy Seales for 5.2/6,000 upon severall accounts, pensions, guards, wardrobes, pri vie purse, &c. besides divers pardons, and one more wch I must not forget (and wch by Providence I was not present at) one Mr. Lytcott to be Secretary to the Ambassador to Rome. We being three Commissioners, any two were a quorum.

Before 1698 David Colyear 1st Earl Portmore [aged 41] and Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 40] were married.

In 1698 [her son] David Colyear was born to [her husband] David Colyear 1st Earl Portmore [aged 42] and Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 40]. Given his mother was a recent mistress of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 64] it is possible the father was King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.

In October 1699 [her son-in-law] James Annesley 3rd Earl Anglesey [aged 25] and [her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Darnley Duchess Buckingham and Normandby [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess Anglesey. She the illegitmate daughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 65] and Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 41]. He the son of James Annesley 2nd Earl Anglesey and Elizabeth Manners Countess Anglesey [aged 45]. They were fourth cousin twice removed.

On 27th August 1700 [her son] Charles Colyear 2nd Earl Portmore was born to [her husband] David Colyear 1st Earl Portmore [aged 44] and Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 42]. Given his mother was a recent mistress of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland [aged 66] it is possible the father was King James II of England Scotland and Ireland.

On 20th August 1701 [her father] Charles Sedley 5th Baronet [aged 62] died. Baronet Sedley of Ailesford in Kent extinct.

On 13th April 1703 [her husband] David Colyear 1st Earl Portmore [aged 47] was created 1st Earl Portmore. Possibly for having married the King's former mistress Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 45]. Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore by marriage Countess Portmore.

On 16th March 1705 [her son-in-law] John Sheffield 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby [aged 56] and [her illegitimate daughter] Catherine Darnley Duchess Buckingham and Normandby [aged 25] were married at St Martin in the Fields Church [Map]. She by marriage Duchess of Buckingham and Normanby. The difference in their ages was 31 years. She the illegitmate daughter of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland and Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 47]. He the son of Edmund Sheffield 2nd Earl Mulgrave and Elizabeth Cranfield Countess Mulgrave [aged 97].

On 26th October 1717 Catherine Sedley Countess Dorchester and Portmore [aged 59] died in Bath, Somerset [Map]. Earl Dorchester extinct.

On 2nd January 1730 [her former husband] David Colyear 1st Earl Portmore [aged 74] died. His son Charles [aged 29] succeeded 2nd Earl Portmore.