Anne Stuart Percy, Lady Warkworth (c.1745 – 20 January 1813), also known as "Lady Percy" (Countess Percy), was the first wife of Hugh Percy, later Duke of Northumberland (1742–1817). She is known for her association with the novelist

Laurence Sterne Laurence Sterne (24 November 1713 – 18 March 1768) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and Anglican cleric. He is best known for his comic novels ''The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'' (1759–1767) and ''A Sentimental Journey Thro ...

, with whom she may have had an intimate relationship.

Biography

Anne Crichton-Stuart was the third daughter of

John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (; 25 May 1713 – 10 March 1792), styled Lord Mount Stuart between 1713 and 1723, was a British Tory statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1762 to 1763 under George III. He became the ...

, and his wife

Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a female given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religion * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also called the Blesse ...

. She married Percy on 2 July 1764, when she was still in their teens, two years before his father was raised to a dukedom and he gained the title "Earl Percy". At the time of their marriage, he was known as "Lord Warkworth". The ceremony was conducted by Bishop Stone the Primate of Ireland. Before and during her marriage, there is evidence of Lady Warkworth's friendship with Laurence Sterne, and she is thought to be the woman to whom he refers in his diary as "Sheba". Lord and Lady Warkworth had no children, and were legally separated in 1769. Servants and acquaintances later testified that Percy had not visited his wife since 1771. In 1779, Percy applied to the House of Lords for a divorce, on the grounds that his wife had committed

adultery Adultery is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal consequences, the concept ...

with a Mr Bird while he was abroad. Servants were called to testify to Lady Percy's relationship with a Mr Bird of Coventry, whom she had met at Southampton while visiting her sister, Lady Augusta Corbett. She did not oppose the divorce, which was granted. Shortly afterwards, Percy married Frances Julia Burrell.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warkworth, Anne Stuart Percy, Lady 1740s births 1813 deaths 18th-century Scottish nobility 19th-century Scottish nobility 18th-century Scottish women 19th-century Scottish women British courtesy countesses Daughters of barons Daughters of Scottish earls Stuart of Bute family Percy family Children of John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute