Amelia Byron, Baroness Conyers, 12th Baroness Darcy de Knayth, 9th Baroness Conyers, 5th Countess of Mértola (''née'' Lady Amelia Darcy; 12 October 1754 – 27 January 1784), known as the Marchioness of Carmarthen from 1773–9, was a
British peer and a Portuguese countess. She is best known for eloping with
John "Mad Jack" Byron, father of
Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...
.
Early life
Lady Amelia was the only surviving child of
Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness, and his wife,
the former Mary Doublet. Her portrait was painted in about 1764 by
François-Hubert Drouais.
Marriage to Marquess of Carmarthen
On 29 November 1773, Lady Amelia 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 Godolphin 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, Lady 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.
On 16 May 1778, as the only surviving child of her father, Lady 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 was eventually confirmed in 1798, long after her death.
Affair with "Mad Jack" Byron
In December 1778, Lady Carmarthen's marriage ended when she ran off with Captain
John "Mad Jack" Byron.
[ The previous month, Byron visited her at home in ]Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square ( ) is a large garden square in the Mayfair district of Westminster, Greater London. It is the centrepiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of Westminster, and takes its name from the duke's surname "Grosvenor". It was deve ...
when her husband was absent, and they began an affair.
Death
A year after the birth of the last child, Lady Conyers died following a lingering illness at her home at Upper Brook Street, Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of Westminster, London, England, in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. It is between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane and one of the most expensive districts ...
. Her 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) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carmarthen, Amelia Osborne, Marchioness Of
1754 births
1784 deaths
18th-century British nobility
18th-century British women
Amelia
Osborne, Amelia
Daughters of British earls
British courtesy marchionesses
Lord Byron
Darcy de Knayth, Amelia Osborne, 12th Baroness
Amelia
12
Barons Conyers