Elizabeth Courtenay, Countess of Devon (10 July 1801 – 27 January 1867), formerly Lady Elizabeth Fortescue, was the wife of

William Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon William Reginald Courtenay, 11th Earl of Devon Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, PC (14 April 1807 – 18 November 1888), styled Lord Courtenay between 1835 and 1859, was a British politician who served as Chancellor of the Duchy o ...

, and the mother of the 12th Earl. Lady Elizabeth was the daughter of

Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue (12 March 1753 – 16 June 1841) was a British peer, created Earl Fortescue in 1789. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Beaumaris from 1784 to 1785. Origins He was the son of Matthew Fortescue, 2nd ...

, and his wife, the former Hester Grenville. She had three brothers, including

Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue (13 February 1783 – 14 September 1861), styled Viscount Ebrington from 1789 to 1841, was a British Whig (British political faction), Whig politician. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1839 to 1841. Ear ...

, and five sisters. Lady Elizabeth married the future earl on 27 December 1830, when he was still an MP and the heir to the earldom. Their children were: *William Reginald Courtenay (1832–1853), who died unmarried and childless *Hugh Courtenay (1833–1835), who died in infancy * Edward Baldwin Courtenay, 12th Earl of Devon (1836–1891), who died unmarried and childless *Lady Agnes Elizabeth Courtenay (1838–1919), who married

Charles Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax Charles Lindley Wood, 2nd Viscount Halifax (7 June 1839 – 19 January 1934), was a British Anglo-Catholic ecumenist who served as president of the English Church Union from 1868 to 1919, and from 1927 to 1934. In 1886, he was a former part o ...

, and had children In 1859, Courtenay's inherited his father's earldom and his wife became countess. The earl made a number of improvements to the family home of

Powderham Castle Powderham Castle is a fortified manor house in Exminster, Devon, south of Exeter and mile (0.4 km) north-east of the village of Kenton, where the main public entrance gates are located. It is a Grade I listed building. The park and gar ...

. A large granite memorial cross to the countess's eldest son, William, is to be found in the churchyard of St Clement's Church, Powderham, and is inscribed on the west side of the base: "William Reginald Courtenay eldest son of Lord & Lady Courtenay, born Oct 28 1832 died Nov.r 21 1853. In memory of their first born and much beloved child this cross is erected by his sorrowing parents". On the east side is inscribed: "Sorrow not even as others which have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. I Thess. IV 13.14". On the south side is inscribed: "Elizabeth Countess of Devon Died Janr. 27th 1887". Elizabeth's own tomb, with a full-length recumbent alabaster effigy by Edward Bowring Stephens, is situated inside St Clement's, against the east wall of the south transept. The earl survived his wife by twenty years, but never remarried.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devon, Elizabeth Courtenay, Countess of 1801 births 1867 deaths Daughters of English earls English countesses by marriage

Elizabeth Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Empress Elisabeth (disambiguation), lists various empresses named ''Elisabeth'' or ''Elizabeth'' * Princess Elizabeth ...