Frances, Lady Carteret
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Frances Carteret, Lady Carteret (''née'' Worsley, 6 March 1694 – 20 June 1743) was an English noblewoman who served as the vicereine of Ireland. Known as a popular hostess, she was the subject of poetry by
Jonathan Swift Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish writer, essayist, satirist, and Anglican cleric. In 1713, he became the Dean (Christianity), dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and was given the sobriquet "Dean Swi ...
and Patrick Delany.


Family

Frances was the daughter of
Sir Robert Worsley, 4th Baronet Sir Robert Worsley, 4th Baronet (c. 1669–1747), was a British politician who sat in the British House of Commons, House of Commons from 1715 to 1722. Worsley was the eldest son of Sir Robert Worsley, 3rd Baronet, MP of Appuldurcombe, and his wi ...
of Appuldurcombe, Isle of Wight, and his wife Frances Thynne, daughter of
Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth (1640 – 28 July 1714) was an English politician who served as president of the Board of Trade from 1702 to 1705. Biography He was born the son of Sir Henry Frederick Thynne of Caus Castle, Shropshire, ...
. She married John Carteret, 2nd Baron Carteret at
Longleat Longleat is a stately home about west of Warminster in Wiltshire, England. A leading and early example of the Elizabethan prodigy house, it is a Grade I listed building and the seat of the Marquesses of Bath. Longleat is set in of parkl ...
on 17 October 1710 at the age of 16. They had at least six children: * Louisa Carteret (c.1712–1736), who married
Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth (21 May 1710 – 1751) of Longleat House in Wiltshire was an English peer, descended from Sir John Thynne (c.1515-1580) builder of Longleat. Origins He was born on 21 May 1710, the son of Thomas Thynne (d.1 ...
* Grace Carteret (b. 1713), who married Lionel Tollemache, 4th Earl of Dysart * Georgiana Caroline Carteret (1715–1780), who married John Spencer MP and then
William Clavering-Cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper William Clavering-Cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper (13 August 1709 – 18 September 1764), styled Viscount Fordwich between 1718 and 1723, was an English peer and courtier. Born William Cowper, he was the eldest son of William Cowper, 1st Earl Cowper a ...
* George Carteret (b. 1716), who predeceased his father * Frances Carteret (b. 1718) who married
John Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale John Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale, (16959 December 1762) was a Scottish nobleman. Early life He was the eldest son of Charles Hay, 3rd Marquess of Tweeddale and the former Lady Susan Hamilton, the widow of John Cochrane, 2nd Earl of Dundon ...
*
Robert Carteret, 3rd Earl Granville Robert Carteret, 3rd Earl Granville, 3rd Baron Carteret (21 September 1721 – 13 February 1776) was an English nobleman and politician who was Member of Parliament for Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Yarmouth (1744–1747) and hereditary List of bailif ...
(1721–1776).


Vicereine of Ireland

When her husband became
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (), or more formally Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, was the title of the chief governor of Ireland from the Williamite Wars of 1690 until the Partition of Ireland in 1922. This spanned the K ...
in 1724, Lady Carteret accompanied him to Ireland for what would become thirty months of visits there over a five-and-a-half year viceregency. She endeared herself to the people of Ireland by signalling her early commitment to the role when she brought her young daughters to live with her there, and accompanying her husband on all his visits. She entertaining members of opposing political factions at the viceregal apartment at
Dublin Castle Dublin Castle () is a major Government of Ireland, Irish government complex, conference centre, and tourist attraction. It is located off Dame Street in central Dublin. It is a former motte-and-bailey castle and was chosen for its position at ...
during the controversy over
Wood's halfpence William Wood (1671–1730) was an English hardware manufacturer, ironmaster, and mintmaster, notorious for receiving a contract to strike an issue of Irish coinage from 1722 to 1724. He also struck the 'Rosa Americana' coins of British America ...
which agitated the beginning of Carteret's viceregency. Developing the social role of the viceregal office, she imitated the
Hanoverian The adjective Hanoverian is used to describe: * British monarchs or supporters of the House of Hanover, the dynasty which ruled the United Kingdom from 1714 to 1901 * things relating to; ** Electorate of Hanover ** Kingdom of Hanover ** Province of ...
Court and Caroline, Princess of Wales, holding 'drawing-rooms' twice a week. This made her 'court' the focus of local society and set a new standard for hospitality by a vicereine.Wilson (2014), pp. 24–5. Lady Carteret was admired for her beauty, her singing voice, and the fortuitous matches she made for her daughters. A keen attender of musical events in London, she hosted plays and concerts at the Castle, and Lord and Lady Carteret would boost the numbers in the audience at a play by attending it. She was a sought-after patroness of the arts, being the dedicatee of literary works by
Jonathan Swift Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish writer, essayist, satirist, and Anglican cleric. In 1713, he became the Dean (Christianity), dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and was given the sobriquet "Dean Swi ...
(a friend of Frances and her mother), Patrick Delany and
Thomas Sheridan Thomas Sheridan may refer to: *Thomas Sheridan (divine) (1687–1738), Anglican divine *Thomas Sheridan (actor) (1719–1788), Irish actor and teacher of elocution *Thomas Sheridan (soldier) (1775–1817/18) *Thomas B. Sheridan (born 1931), America ...
. She is the subject of several poems, such as 'Apology to Lady Carteret,' attributed to either Swift or Delany, which apologises for a missed invitation to dine at Dublin Castle and celebrates 'the living lustre of ady Carterets eyes.' Jonathan Swift called her 'the best queen we have known in Ireland these many years.'


Death

In 1743 Lady Carteret accompanied her husband on his journey to
Hanover Hanover ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Lower Saxony. Its population of 535,932 (2021) makes it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-l ...
, Germany in his capacity of
Secretary of State for the Northern Department The secretary of state for the Northern Department was a position in the Cabinet (government), Cabinet of the government of Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain up to 1782. Following this, the Northern Department became the Foreign Office, a ...
. She was taken ill as he was departing for the
Battle of Dettingen The Battle of Dettingen took place on 27 June 1743 during the War of the Austrian Succession, near Karlstein am Main in Bavaria. An alliance composed of British, Hanoverian and Austrian troops, known as the Pragmatic Army, defeated a French ...
, but encouraged him to leave her behind.Ballantyne (1887), p. 373. She died on 20 June 1743.


References

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External links


Frances Carteret (née Worsley), Lady Carteret
at the
National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...
1694 births 1743 deaths 18th-century English nobility Carteret Daughters of baronets Worsley family
Frances Frances is an English given name or last name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'the French.' The male version of the name in English is Francis (given name), Francis. The original Franciscus, meaning "F ...
Viceregal consorts of Ireland