Jane Digby
| Jane Digby | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Digby by Joseph Karl Stieler (1831)
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| Born |
Jane Elizabeth Digby 3 April 1807 Minterne Magna, Dorset, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 11 August 1881 (aged 74) Damascus, Syria |
| Cause of death | Fever and Dysentery, |
| Resting place | Damascus, Syria |
| Other names | Jane Elizabeth Digby el Mezrab Shaikhah Umm al-Laban |
| Title | Lady Ellenborough |
| Spouse(s) |
Edward Law (m. 1824; div. 1830) Baron Karl von Venningen (m. 1833; div. 1842) Spyridon Theotokis (m. 1841; div. 1846) Abdul Midjuel el Mezrab (m. 1853; her death 1881) |
| Parent(s) |
Admiral Sir Henry Digby Lady Jane Elizabeth (née Coke) |
Jane Elizabeth Digby, Lady Ellenborough (3 April 1807 – 11 August 1881) was an English aristocrat who lived a life of romantic adventure, spanning decades and two continents. She had four husbands and many lovers, including King Ludwig I of Bavaria, his son King Otto of Greece, statesman Felix Schwarzenberg, and a Greek general (Christodoulos Hatzipetros). She died in Damascus, Syria, as the wife of Arab Sheikh Medjuel el Mezrab, who was 20 years her junior.
Jane Elizabeth Digby was born in Forston House, near Minterne Magna, Dorset on 3 April 1807, daughter of Admiral Henry Digby and Lady Jane Elizabeth née Coke, a renowned beauty and daughter of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. She was often called Jenny, or Aurora, the latter bestowed upon Jane by one of her many admirers. Jane's father seized the Spanish treasure ship Santa Brígida in 1799 and his share of the prize money established the family fortune.
As captain of HMS Africa he participated under Admiral Nelson's command in the Battle of Trafalgar. His estate, Minterne Magna, was inherited. Jane's maternal grandfather was Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. Pamela Churchill Harriman was the great-great-niece of Jane Digby.
Considered promiscuous for her times, she was first married to Edward Law, 2nd Baron Ellenborough (later Earl of Ellenborough), who became Governor General of India, on 15 October 1824. At the time of her marriage, Jane was described as tall, with a perfect figure. She had a lovely face, pale-gold hair, wide-spaced dark blue eyes, long dark lashes, and a wild rose complexion. They had one son, Arthur Dudley Law (15 February 1828 – 1 February 1830), who died in infancy.
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Wikipedia