Maria Anne Fitzherbert

From Freepedia

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (26 July 1756-27 March 1837), née Smythe was the eldest child of Walter Smythe of Bainbridge, Hampshire and Mary Errington.

Her paternal grandparents were Sir John Smythe, 3rd Baronet Smythe and Constantia Blount. Her maternal grandparents were John Errington and Maria Levesy. Maria was also mother to Charles William Molyneux, 1st Earl of Sefton by another marriage.

She was educated in Paris. She was married to Edward Weld of Lulworth Castle in June, 1775. Edward was 16 years her senior. The marriage was short-lived and Maria Anne soon became a widow.

She was secondly married to Thomas Fitzherbert of Swynnerton, Staffordshire. She was ten years younger than him. They had a son who died young. She became a widow for a second time on 7 May, 1781, inheriting a residence in Mayfair and an annual income of £1,000.

The young widow soon entered London high society. In spring, 1784, Maria was introduced to a youthful admirer: George, Prince of Wales. She became the most notable royal mistress to the future George IV of the United Kingdom by marrying him on December 15, 1785.

The marriage was considered invalid under the Royal Marriages Act 1772 because it had not been approved by George III of the United Kingdom and the Privy Council. Had permission been asked, it would probably not have been granted, as Mrs. Fitzherbert was a Roman Catholic.

They continued to see one another after the Prince's marriage to Caroline of Brunswick, and the prince returned to live with Maria in about 1800, but their relationship had ended permanently by 1811. Following the death of George on 26 June, 1830, it was discovered that he had kept all her letters, and steps were taken to destroy them. The new king, William IV, offered to make her a royal duchess, but she declined.

She is buried in a Catholic church in Kemp Town, Brighton.

References

• Charles Langdale: The Memoirs of Mrs Fitzherbert : with an account of her marriage with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, afterwards King George IV.. – London : Richard Bentley, 1856
• WH Wilkins: Mrs Fitzherbert and George IV. – London, New York und Bombay : Longmans, Green, & Co., 1905
• Sir Shane Leslie: Mrs. Fitzherbert : A Life. Chiefly from Unpublished Sources. 2 Bände. – London : Burns Oates, 1939–40
• Anita Leslie: Mrs. Fitzherbert. – London : Hutchinson & Co. Ltd., 1960
• Geraldine Simpson: Mrs Fitzherbert : The Uncrowned Queen. – 1971
• Valerie Irvine: The King's Wife : George IV and Mrs Fitzherbert. – London : Hambledon & London, 2005. – ISBN 185285443X