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Theresa Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry

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The Most Honourable
The Marchioness of Londonderry
Theresa, Marchioness of Londonderry by John Singer Sargent[1]
Born
Lady Theresa Susey Helen Chetwynd-Talbot

(1856-06-06)6 June 1856
Ingestre Hall, Staffordshire, England
Died16 March 1919(1919-03-16) (aged 62)
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Socialite, political hostess
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1875; died 1915)​
Children
Parent(s)Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 19th Earl of Shrewsbury
Anna Theresa Cockerell

Theresa Susey Helen Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry (née Chetwynd-Talbot; 6 June 1856 – 16 March 1919) was a British socialite and political hostess. She was a leading Unionist campaigner against Irish Home Rule, serving as president of the Ulster Women's Unionist Council from 1913 to 1919. She was said to be one of the most "dominating feminine personalities" of the time and was referred to as the "Queen of Toryism" and a "highwaywoman in a tiara."

Early life

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Lady Theresa Chetwynd-Talbot and her brother, Viscount Ingestre, by Valentine Cameron Prinsep

She was born was born Lady Theresa Chetwynd-Talbot in 6 June 1856 at Ingestre Hall, her family's estate in Staffordshire.[2] She was the elder daughter of Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 19th Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife Anna Theresa Cockerell (1836–1912). She was brought up with conservative values and was interested in politics. She was an admirer of Benjamin Disraeli.[2]

Marriage

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The Marchioness of Londonderry, 1889

She married Charles Vane-Tempest, Viscount Castlereagh, later the 6th Marquess of Londonderry, in the private chapel of Alton Hall in 1875. They were both leading Unionist campaigners against Irish independence.[2] She was the President of the Ulster Women's Unionist Council.[3] In 1893, she organised a petition of 20,000 women from Ulster to oppose the 1893 Home Rule bill in parliament.[2]

She was considered the leading Tory hostess and entertained at the couples' houses at Wynyard Park, County Durham, Mount Stewart, County Down, Northern Ireland, and Londonderry House in London. Their guests included royalty.[4] She was said to be one of the "dominating feminine personalities" of the time.[5] She was referred to as the "Queen of Toryism" and a "highwaywoman in a tiara."[3] She was said to be more persuasive than her husband, but they were united in their interests. She was not faithful to her husband.[6]

In 1909 her portrait was painted by John Singer Sargent. The painting is now held by the National Trust at Mount Stewart in County Down.[1]

The couple had two sons and one daughter:

Lady Londonderry was widowed in 1915 and died in 1919.[1]

In the media

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At the end of 2023 the BBC launched the radio and podcast miniseries The Mystery of Mount Stewart, narrated by Kerri Quinn, about a boat that sank on Strangford Lough in April 1895. Theresa, Lady Londonderry, had lend her sailing boat, as a treat to her senior servants, which she called friends. The series tries to uncover what happened to the boat and its eight passengers that went missing.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c National Trust. "Theresa Susey Helen Talbot, Marchioness of Londonderry (1855 -1919) 1542320". www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  2. ^ a b c d Finley-Bowman, Rachel E (May 2003). "An Ideal Unionist: The Political Career of Theresa, Marchioness of Londonderry, 1911-1919" (PDF). Journal of International Women's Studies. 4 (3): 15–29.
  3. ^ a b "Ulster Covenant: Women's signature role in the fight against Home Rule". Belfast Telegraph.
  4. ^ "The Dictionary of Ulster Biography". www.newulsterbiography.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  5. ^ Hyde, Harford Montgomery (1979). The Londonderrys, a Family Portrait. H. Hamilton. ISBN 978-0-241-10153-7.
  6. ^ "Stewart, Charles Stewart Vane - Tempest | Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  7. ^ "Marriage of Lord Stavordale and Lady Helen Stewart". The Times. No. 36675. London. 27 January 1902. p. 11
  8. ^ "Hope Street's Kerri Quinn delves into The Mystery of Mount Stewart in new BBC Sounds podcast". BBC. 2023-12-20. Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  9. ^ "The Mystery of Mountstewart". BBC Sounds. 2023-12-23. Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
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