Sophia Dubochet (29 June 1794 – 29 August 1875), also known as "Sophia Wilson", was an English

courtesan Courtesan, in modern usage, is a euphemism for a "kept" mistress (lover), mistress or prostitute, particularly one with wealthy, powerful, or influential clients. The term historically referred to a courtier, a person who attended the Royal cour ...

, who became the wife of

Thomas Noel Hill, 2nd Baron Berwick Thomas Noel Hill, 2nd Baron Berwick of Attingham, FSA (21 October 1770 – 3 November 1832), was a British peer and art patron. The first son of Noel Hill, who was created Baron Berwick in 1784, and his wife Anna Vernon, he was educated at ...

Early life

Sophia was the daughter of John James Dubochet, a Swiss clockmaker who worked in

Mayfair Mayfair is an affluent area in the West End of London towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster, between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is one of the most expensive districts in the world. ...

, London, and his wife, Amelia (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...

Cook) Dubochet. Another of their daughters was

Harriette Wilson Harriette Wilson (2 February 1786 – 10 March 1845) was the author of ''The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson: Written by Herself'' (1825). Wilson was a famed British Regency courtesan who became the mistress of William, Lord Craven, at the age of ...

. Another sister, Amy, later had an illegitimate child by George William Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll, who had also been Harriette's lover.''Harriette Wilson's Memoirs''; selected and edited by Lesley Blanch. London: Phoenix Press, 2003

Personal life

According to Harriette's memoirs, the teenage Sophia, "a remarkably shy, proud girl", was being pursued by

Viscount Deerhurst A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. In many countries a viscount, and its historical equivalents, was a non-hereditary, administrative or judicial ...

, and Harriette recommended to her mother that Sophia be sent away to school. However, she eloped with Deerhurst, who, when found by her family, "declared that nothing wrong had occurred, he having passed the night with Sophia in mere conversation". Nevertheless, he moved her into squalid lodgings. Sophia quickly built up her own circle of admirers, including

William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster William Robert FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster, KP, PC (Ire) (12/13 March 1749 – 20 October 1804) was an Irish liberal politician and landowner. He was born in London. Career FitzGerald made his Grand Tour between 1768 and 1769. During th ...

, and

George Lamb George Martin Lamb (born 20 December 1979) is an English radio and television presenter, currently presenting ''Football Tonight'' on BT Sport. In 2012, Lamb presented the Channel 4 game show ''The Bank Job''. Lamb is the son of actor Larry Lam ...

. Initially, she claimed to dislike Berwick, but was eventually persuaded to marry him.

Marriage to Lord Berwick

On 8 February 1812, seventeen year old Sophia married forty-one year old

St Marylebone Parish Church St Marylebone Parish Church is an Anglican church on the Marylebone Road in London. It was built to the designs of Thomas Hardwick in 1813–17. The present site is the third used by the parish for its church. The first was further south, near Ox ...

, London, after an on-off courtship. They had no children. At

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

, the new Lady Berwick was both admired and reviled for her lack of "illustrious descent". A local paper commented that "the late abuse of the press has in no degree diminished the vivacity so characteristic of her ladyship and family." However, it has been suggested that, after her marriage, Sophia deliberately snubbed her sisters. The couple's extravagance was such that Lord Berwick went

bankrupt Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debt ...

in 1827. They were forced to sell most of their property, lease the house to his brother and live abroad. Lord Berwick died in Naples in 1832 and the barony was inherited by his younger brother, William Noel-Hill who became the 3rd

Baron Berwick Baron Berwick, of Attingham Park in the County of Shropshire, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1784 for Noel Hill, who had earlier represented Shrewsbury and Shropshire in Parliament. He was the son of Thomas Hil ...

. Lady Berwick retired to

Leamington Spa Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or simply Leamington (), is a spa town and civil parish in Warwickshire, England. Originally a small village called Leamington Priors, it grew into a spa town in the 18th century following ...

, where she died in her eighties.

Legacy

Her portrait in

miniature A miniature is a small-scale reproduction, or a small version. It may refer to: * Portrait miniature, a miniature portrait painting * Miniature art, miniature painting, engraving and sculpture * Miniature (chess), a masterful chess game or probl ...

was painted by

Richard Cosway Richard Cosway (5 November 1742 – 4 July 1821) was a leading English portrait painter of the Georgian and Regency era, noted for his miniatures. He was a contemporary of John Smart, George Engleheart, William Wood, and Richard Crosse. ...

in about 1812, and is held in the collection at

Attingham Park Attingham Park is an English country house and estate in Shropshire. Located near the village of Atcham, on the B4380 Shrewsbury to Wellington road. It is owned by the National Trust. It is a Grade I listed building. Attingham Park was bu ...

References

External links

Papers Of Thomas Noel Hill, 2nd Baron Berwick
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dubochet, Sophia 1794 births 1875 deaths Berwick