Amelia Osborne, Marchioness of Carmarthen, 12th Baroness Darcy de Knayth, 9th Baroness Conyers, 5th Countess of Mértola (''née'' Darcy; 12 October 1754 – 27 January 1784), was a

British peer The peerages in the United Kingdom are a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various noble ranks, and forming a constituent part of the British honours system. The term ''peerage'' can be used both collec ...

and a Portuguese countess.

Life

She was the only surviving child of

Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness, (17 May 1718 – 16 May 1778), known before 1721 as Lord Darcy and Conyers, was a British diplomat and politician. Career In 1741 he collaborated with G.F. Handel in the production of Deidamia. From ...

, and his wife, the former Mary Doublet. Her portrait was painted in about 1764 by

François-Hubert Drouais François-Hubert Drouais (Paris, 14 December 1727 – Paris, 21 October 1775) was a leading French portrait painter during the latter years of Louis XV's reign.For a history of the Drouais family, see Prosper Dorbec (1904, 1905) and Camille Gabill ...

. On 29 November 1773, she married Francis Osborne, Marquess of Carmarthen, in London, and they had three children: * Lord ''George'' William Frederick Osborne (21 July 1775 – 10 July 1838), later 6th Duke of Leeds; married Lady Charlotte Townshend, daughter of the 1st Marquess Townshend, on 17 August 1797 and had issue. * Lady ''Mary'' Henrietta Juliana Osborne (7 September 1776 – 21 October 1862); married

Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester PC, PC (Ire), FRS (28 April 1756 – 4 July 1826), styled The Honourable Thomas Pelham from 1768 until 1783, The Right Honourable Thomas Pelham from 1783 to 1801, and then known as Lord Pelham until 1805, ...

(28 April 1756 – 4 July 1826) in 1801 and had issue. * Lord ''Francis'' Osborne (18 October 1777 – 15 February 1850), later 1st Baron Godolphin; married The Hon. Elizabeth Eden, third daughter of the 1st Baron Auckland, on 31 March 1800 and had issue. In early 1777 Amelia's mother Lady Holderness broke off relations with her daughter after the Carmarthens gave shelter to Richard Glover (son of the poet), a friend of Lord Carmarthen, when he eloped with one of the daughters of

Solomon Dayrolles Solomon Dayrolles (died 1786) was an English diplomat. Life Dayrolles was the nephew and heir of James Dayrolles, king's resident for some time at Geneva, and from 1717 to 1739 at The Hague, who died on 2 January 1739, was the godson of Philip ...

. On 16 May 1778, as the only surviving child of her father, Amelia succeeded ''de jure'' to the titles of 12th Baroness Darcy de Knayth and 9th Baroness Conyers in her own right, and to the Portuguese countship of Mértola. Her right to the baronies of Darcy de Knayth and

Conyers Conyers is an Atlanta suburb, the county seat of and only city in Rockdale County, Georgia, Rockdale County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. The city is 24 miles (38.6 km) east of Atlanta, downtown Atlanta and is a part of t ...

was eventually confirmed in 1798, long after her death. In December 1778 Lady Carmarthen's marriage ended when she ran off with Captain

John "Mad Jack" Byron Captain John Byron (1757 – 2 August 1791) was a British Army officer and letter writer, best known as the father of the poet Lord Byron. In 1824, an obituary of his son gave him the nickname "Mad Jack Byron", and though there is no evidence f ...

. Byron had been visiting her at home in Grosvenor Square when her husband was absent, and they had been having an affair. Lord and Lady Carmarthen were divorced on 31 May 1779. Almost immediately after the divorce, she married Byron. They had three children: *Sophia Georgina Byron (July 1779 – died aged two months; buried at Twickenham on 18 September 1779). *Unnamed son (died at birth, ca. 1780/81). * Augusta Maria Byron (26 January 1783 – 12 October 1851). A year after the birth of the last child, Amelia died and the titles were inherited by her eldest son, George. By his second wife, her widower became the father of the poet,

Lord Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and Peerage of the United Kingdom, peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and h ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carmarthen, Amelia Osborne, Marchioness Of 1754 births 1784 deaths 18th-century British people 18th-century British women Amelia Osborne, Amelia Daughters of British earls British courtesy marchionesses Lord Byron Darcy de Knayth, Amelia Osborne, 12th Baroness Amelia Barons Darcy de Knayth Barons Conyers