Harriet Leveson-Gower, Countess Granville
| Harriet Leveson-Gower | |
|---|---|
Lady Harriet, c. 1809/1810
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| Born |
Henrietta Elizabeth Cavendish 29 August 1785 Devonshire House, Piccadilly, London |
| Died | 25 November 1862 (aged 77) 13 Hereford Street, Park Lane, London |
| Title | Countess Granville |
| Spouse(s) | Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville |
| Children | Susan Pitt-Rivers, Baroness Rivers Lady Georgiana Fullerton Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville Lord Frederick Leveson-Gower |
| Parent(s) |
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire Lady Georgiana Spencer |
Henrietta Elizabeth "Harriet" Leveson-Gower, Countess Granville (née Cavendish; 29 August 1785 – 25 November 1862) was a British peeress and society hostess. She was born in Devonshire House as the second daughter of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire by his wife, the political hostess Lady Georgiana Spencer. Despite her parents' turbulent marriage, Harriet had a happy childhood. Her mother's death in 1806 led to an unpleasant situation in which her father's long-time mistress Lady Elizabeth Foster took control of the Devonshire household; as the unmarried eldest daughter, this should have been Harriet's role.
To help her escape this awkward domestic situation, Harriet's maternal aunt Henrietta arranged for her niece to marry her lover of seventeen years, Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville. The couple's marriage proved to be happy, and it produced five children. Granville served as his country's ambassador to France intermittently from 1824 to 1841, and he was awarded an earldom in 1833. With her position, Harriet acted as hostess to Parisian society, writing detailed accounts that were later published. She died in 1862 of a stroke, having been widowed fifteen years.
Lady Henrietta Elizabeth Cavendish was born at Devonshire House on 29 August 1785, the younger daughter of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire and his wife Lady Georgiana Spencer. Known as "Harriet" or "Harryo" to her family, the baby was named after Georgiana's sister Henrietta Ponsonby and her friend Lady Elizabeth Foster. Her parents' marriage had been unhappy from the start; the Duchess had difficulty bringing her pregnancies to term, suffering miscarriages during their first nine years together. Her mother distracted herself by becoming immersed in society, and was soon known as a political hostess and leader of fashion.
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