Biography of Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne 1751-1818

The London Gazette 12146. 23rd December 1780. Also like Letters Patent, containing His Majesty's Grants of the Dignity of a Viscount of the said Kingdom unto the following Noblemen, and their Heirs Male, by the Names, Stiles and Titles as undermentioned, viz.

James Baron Lifford, His Majesty's Chancellor of Ireland, Viscount Lifford, of Lifford, in the County of Donegall.

Otway Lord Desart, Viscount Desart, of Desert, in the County of Kilkenny.

John Baron Erne [aged 49], Viscount Erne, of Crom Castle, in the County of Fermanagh. [Mary Caroline Hervey Countess Erne [aged 27] by marriage Viscountess Erne of Crom Castle in County Fermanagh.]

Barry Lord Farnham, Viscount Farnham, of Farnham, in the County of Cavan.

Simon Lord Irnham [aged 67], Viscount Carhampton, of Castlehaven, in the County of Cork.

Bernard Lord Bangor [aged 61], Viscoount Bangor, of Castleward, in the County of Downe. [Ann Bligh Viscountess Bangor by marriage Viscountess Bangor of Castleward in County Downe.]

[her husband] Penyston Lord Melbourne [aged 35], Viscount Melbourne, of Kilmore, in the County of Cavan. [Elizabeth Milbanke Viscountess Melbourne [aged 29] by marriage Viscountess Melbourne of Kilmore in County Cavan.]

James Lord Clifden [aged 46], Viscount Clifden, of Gowran, in the County of Kilkenny.

John Lord Naas [aged 80], Viscount Mayo, of Monecrouer.

Letters and Journals of Lord Byron 07 March 1814. 7th March 1814. Rose at seven-ready by half past eight-went to Mr. Hanson's, Berkeley-square-went to church with his eldest daughter, Mary Anne¹ (a good girl), and gave her away to the Earl of Portsmouth [aged 46]. Saw her fairly a countess-congratulated the family and groom (bride)-drank a bumper of wine (wholesome sherris) to their felicity, and all that,-and came home. Asked to stay to dinner, but could not. At three sat to Phillips for faces. Called on Lady M [aged 62].-I like her so well, that I always stay too long. (Mem. to mend of that)

Passed the evening with Hobbouse [aged 27], who has begun a Poem, which promises highly;-wish he would go on with it. Heard some curious extracts from a life of Morosini², the blundering Venetian, who blew up the Acropolis at Athens with a bomb, and be d-d to him! Waxed sleepy-just come home-must go to bed, and am engaged to meet Sheridan [aged 62] to-morrow at Rogers's [aged 50].

Queer ceremony that same of marriage-saw many abroad, Greek and Catholic-one, at home, many years ago. There be some strange phrases in the prologue (the exhortation), which made me turn away, not to laugh in the face of the surpliceman. Made one blunder, when I joined the hands of the happy-rammed their left hands, by mistake, into one another. Corrected it-bustled back to the altar-rail, and said 'Amen.' Portsmouth responded as if he had got the whole by heart; and, if any thing, was rather before the priest. It is now midnight, and ******.

Note 1. Lord Portsmouth (see Letters, vol. i. p. 9, note 2 [Footnote 3 of Letter 3]), who had long known the Hansons, from whose house he married his first wife, married, March 7, 1814, Mary Anne, eldest daughter of John Hanson. A commission of lunacy was taken out by the brother and next heir, the Hon. Newton Fellowes; but Lord Chancellor Eldon decided that Lord Portsmouth was capable of entering into the marriage contract and managing his own affairs. The commission was, however, ultimately granted. Byron swore an affidavit on the first occasion.

Denman mentioned Lord Byron's affidavit about Lord Portsmouth as a proof of the influence of Hanson over him; Lord B. swearing that Lord P. had 'rather a superior mind than otherwise'" (Memoirs, etc., of Thomas Moore, vol. vi. p. 47).

The following is the note which Byron sent Hanson to embody in his affidavit:

I have been acquainted with Mr. Hanson and his family for many years. He is my solicitor. About the beginning of March last he sent to me to ask my opinion on the subject of Lord Portsmouth, who, as I understood from Mr. H., was paying great attention to his eldest daughter. He stated to me that Mr. Newton Fellowes (with whom I have no personal acquaintance) was particularly desirous that Lord Portsmouth should marry some 'elderly woman' of his (Mr. Fellowes's) selection-that the title and family estates might thereby devolve on Mr. F. or his children; but that Lord P. had expressed a dislike to old women, and a desire to choose for himself. I told Mr. Hanson that, if Miss Hanson's affections were not pre-engaged, and Lord Portsmouth appeared attached to her, there could be, in my opinion, no objection to the match. I think, but cannot be positive, that I saw Lord Portsmouth at Mr. Hanson's two or three times previous to the marriage; but I had no conversation with him upon it.

The night before the ceremony, I received an invitation from Mr. Hanson, requesting me, as a friend of the family, to be present at the marriage, which was to take place next morning. I went next morning to Bloomsbury Square, where I found the parties. Lady Portsmouth, with her brother and sister and another gentleman, went in the carriage to St. George's Church; Lord Portsmouth and myself walked, as the carriage was full, and the distance short. On my way Lord Portsmouth told me that he had been partial to Miss Hanson from her childhood, and that, since she grew up, and more particularly subsequent to the decease of the late Lady P., this partiality had become attachment, and that he thought her calculated to make him an excellent wife. I was present at the ceremony and gave away the bride. Lord Portsmouth's behaviour seemed to me perfectly calm and rational on the occasion. He seemed particularly attentive to the priest, and gave the responses audibly and very distinctly. I remarked this because, in ordinary conversation, his Lordship has a hesitation in his speech. After the ceremony, we returned to Mr. Hanson's, whence, I believe, they went into the country-where I did not accompany them. Since their return I have occasionally seen Lord and Lady Portsmouth in Bloomsbury Square. They appeared very happy. I have never been very intimate with his Lordship, and am therefore unqualified to give a decided opinion of his general conduct. But had I considered him insane, I should have advised Mr. Hanson, when he consulted me on the subject, not to permit the marriage. His preference of a young woman to an old one, and of his own wishes to those of a younger brother, seemed to me neither irrational nor extraordinary."

There is nothing in the note itself, or in the draft affidavit, to bear out Moore's report of Denman's statement.

Byron, according to the account given by Newton Hanson, is wrong in saying that Mrs. Hanson approved of the marriage. On the contrary, it was the cause of her death, a fortnight later. In 1828 the marriage was annulled, a jury having decided that Lord Portsmouth was non compos mentis when he contracted it.

Note 2. Francesco Morosini (1618-1694) occupied the Morea for Venice (1687), besieged Athens, and bombarded the Parthenon, which had been made a powder-magazine. He became Doge of Venice in 1688.