Biography of Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont 1689-1762

In 1687 [her father] Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 32) and [her mother] Mary Fielding Countess Kingston upon Hull (age 19) were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] William Feilding 2nd Earl Desmond 3rd Earl Denbigh and [her grandmother] Mary Carey Countess Desmond and Denbigh.

On or before 26th May 1689 Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont was born to Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 34) and Mary Fielding Countess Kingston upon Hull (age 21). On 26th May 1689 she was baptised at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden.

In December 1697 [her mother] Mary Fielding Countess Kingston upon Hull (age 29) died.

In 1712 Edward Wortley-Montagu (age 33) and Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 22) were married after they eloped together to avoid her marriage to Clotworthy Skeffington 4th Viscount Massereene. She the daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 57) and Mary Fielding Countess Kingston upon Hull.

On 15th May 1713 [her son] Edward Wortley-Montagu was born to [her husband] Edward Wortley-Montagu (age 35) and Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 23).

On 2nd August 1714 [her father] Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 59) and [her step-mother] Isabella Bentinck Duchess Kingston upon Hull (age 26) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Dorchester. The difference in their ages was 33 years. She the daughter of William Bentinck 1st Earl of Portland and Anne Villiers Countess Portland.

On 24th September 1717 Horace Walpole 4th Earl Orford was born to Robert Walpole 1st Earl Orford (age 41) and Catherine Shorter (age 35). After his death in 1797 [her granddaughter] Louisa Stuart wrote to her grandmother Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 28) of rumours that his biological father was Carr Hervey (age 26) with whom his mother was known to be on romantic terms. This fifth child, Horace, was born some eleven years after this elder siblings who were born 1701-1706.

Around 1718 Johnathan "The Elder" Richardson (age 50). Portrait of Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 28).

In February 1718 [her daughter] Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute was born to [her husband] Edward Wortley-Montagu (age 39) and Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 28) at Constantinople aka Istanbul, Turkey where her father was Ambassador.

Before 1723 Godfrey Kneller (age 76). Portrait of Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 33).

On 5th March 1726 [her father] Evelyn Pierrepont 1st Duke Kingston upon Hull (age 71) died. He was buried at the Church of St Edmund, Holme Pierrepoint [Map]. His grandson Evelyn (age 15) succeeded 2nd Duke Kingston upon Hull, 2nd Marquess Dorchester, 6th Earl Kingston upon Hull, 6th Viscount Newark, 6th Baron Pierrepont of Holme Pierrepoint.

In 1732 James Butler 2nd Duke Ormonde (age 66) was living in Avignon [Map] where he was seen by the writer Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 42).

In 1734 Philip Medows (age 26) and Frances Pierrepont (age 21) were married. On the day of her 21st birthday she attended the opera. During the interval she eloped much to the disapproval of her aunt Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 44) who had eloped in 1712.

Around 20th August 1736 [her son-in-law] John Stuart 3rd Earl Bute (age 23) and [her daughter] Mary Wortley-Montagu Countess Bute (age 18) were married. He the son of James Stuart 2nd Earl Bute and Anne Campbell Countess Bute (age 50). They were fifth cousins.

Before 2nd November 1739 Charles Jervas (age 64). Portrait of Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 50).

Letters of Horace Walpole. 27th July 1752. Arlington Street. To Horace Mann 1st Baronet (age 45).

What will you say to me after a silence of two months? I should be ashamed, if I were answerable for the whole world, who will do nothing worth repeating. Newspapers have horse-races, and can invent casualties, but I can't have the confidence to stuff a letter with either. The only casualty that is of dignity enough to send you, is a great fire at Lincoln's Inn, which is likely to afford new work for the lawyers, in consequence of the number of deeds and writings it has consumed. The Duke of Kingston (age 63) has lost many of his: he is unlucky with fires: Thoresby, his seat, was burnt a few years ago, and in it a whole room of valuable letters and manuscripts. There has been a Very considerable loss of that kind at this fire: Mr. Yorke, the Chancellor's son, had a great collection of Lord Somers's papers, many relating to the assassination plot; and by which, I am told, it appeared that the Duke of Marlborough was deep in the schemes of St. Germain's [Meaning the court of the exiled James II].

On 22nd January 1761 [her husband] Edward Wortley-Montagu (age 82) died.

In 21st August 1762 Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont (age 73) died.

1789. Lichfield Cathedral [Map]. Monument to Mary Wortley-Montagu née Pierrepont. Sculpted by Thomas-Henry Scheemakers (age 49).

The inscription:

Sacred to the Memory of the Right Honorable Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who happily introduced from Turkey, into this country, The Salutary Art of inoculating the Small Pox. Convinced of its efficacy she first tried it with success on her own children. And then recommended the practice of it to her fellow citizens. The by her Example and Advice we have softened the virulence and escaped the danger of of this malignant disease. To perpetuate the memory of such benevolence, and to express gratitude, for the benefit of herself received from this alleviating art. This monument is erected by Henrietta Inge (age 72) relict of Theodore William Inge Esq. and daughter to Sir John Wrottesley Baronet in the year of our lord MDCCLXXXIX [1989].

Henrietta Wrottesley: In 1717 she was born to John Wrottesley 4th Baronet and Frances Grey Lady Wrottesley. On 1st January 1735 Theodore William Inge Baronet and she were married. In 1790 Henrietta Wrottesley died.

Theodore William Inge Baronet: In 1711 he was born. In 1753 he died.

John Wrottesley 4th Baronet: Around 1682 he was born to Walter Wrottesley 3rd Baronet. In 1712 Walter Wrottesley 3rd Baronet died. His son John succeeded 4th Baronet Wrottesley of Wrottesley in Staffordshire. Before 1717 John Wrottesley 4th Baronet and Frances Grey Lady Wrottesley were married. She by marriage Lady Wrottesley of Wrottesley in Staffordshire. In 1726 John Wrottesley 4th Baronet died. His son Hugh succeeded 5th Baronet Wrottesley of Wrottesley in Staffordshire.