Venetia James

Mary Venetia James (née Cavendish-Bentinck; 4 June 1861 – 2 May 1948) was a London society hostess and racehorse breeder.

James was born into the Cavendish-Bentinck family, the daughter of Prudentia (née Leslie) and George Cavendish-Bentinck (1821–1891). Her brother was William George Cavendish-Bentinck (1854–1909) and they were related to the Dukes of Portland, with the dukedom eventually passing to her nephews, Ferdinand and Victor; she was also a relative and godmother of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who later became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom.

In 1872, the 11-year-old Mary Venetia Cavendish-Bentinck had been a bridesmaid at the wedding of Christina Nilsson, a famous opera singer of the period. The wedding was a high society affair, arranged by Venetia's father in Westminster Abbey, London. Venetia held the bride's bouquet whilst Nilsson took her vows with her future husband, French banker Auguste Rouzaud.

In December 1885, she married the racehorse owner and breeder John Arthur James in the Chapel Royal, St James's, London. Venetia and her husband resided at Grafton Street, London, and bred horses at Coton House.

Venetia and Arthur James were both friends of King Edward VII, and Venetia was reputed to be his mistress. The King's private secretary Frederick Ponsonby wrote that she was "full of humour and high spirits, walking with the King and keeping him amused".

Despite being a millionaire, James was noted for her extreme frugality. She served her guests milk that her cat wouldn't drink and preferred to host Catholics on Fridays because fish was cheaper than meat. She was widowed in 1917, and financed the construction of a new department of Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, in the memory of her husband, who had also donated to the hospital. She continued to breed horses and participate in races, winning the Victoria Cup and 1932 Coronation Cup.

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