Katherine Jones, Viscountess Ranelagh

Katherine Jones, Viscountess Ranelagh (22 March 1615 – 3 December 1691) was a female scientist in seventeenth century Britain. She was also a political and religious philosopher, and a member of many intellectual circles including the Hartlib Circle, the Great Tew circle, and the Invisible college. Her correspondents included Samuel Hartlib, Edward Hyde, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Hyde, and John Milton. She was the sister of Robert Boyle and is thought to have been a great influence on his work in chemistry. In her own right she was a political and social figure closely connected to the Hartlib Circle.

Katherine Boyle was born in Youghal, Ireland to Richard Boyle, the first Earl of Cork, and Catherine Fenton, on March 22, 1615. She was the seventh child of fifteen. Her siblings included the scientist, Robert Boyle, and the spiritual diarist, her sister, Lady Mary Rich, later Countess of Warwick. It is not clear how much education she received, although, it is known that her brothers received an extensive education. She may have been tutored privately by the family’s chaplains and received an education in religion and manners. As a wealthy man, her father Richard made sure that his sons were well educated and that he secured politically advantageous marriages for his daughters.

When Katherine Boyle was nine and a half years old, she moved in with the Beaumont family because she was to be wed to one of their sons, Sapcott Beaumont. When she was thirteen, Thomas Beaumont, father of Sapcott Beaumont died, this event caused the marriage arrangements between Katherine and Sapcott to dissolve. She moved back home and two years later married Arthur Jones, heir to Viscount Ranelagh at the age of 15 and she became known as Katherine Jones. It was common for noble women to get married at a younger age, but normally women of this time would not get married until their twenties. As evidenced through letters to her father from her husband, it is insinuated that Arthur Jones was unfaithful to Katherine. Their marriage was not a good one. They spent most of their time living apart, Katherine moved back and forth between Ireland and London, and Arthur spent much of his time traveling. They had four children, three daughters and one son: Catherine, Elizabeth, Frances, and Richard. Katherine lived in Ireland until 1642 when she was trapped in Athlone Castle for four months due to the rebellions in Ireland. Frustrated, she moved to London with her four children in tow.

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