Ann Baring, Baroness Ashburton

Ann Louisa Bingham was born on 6 January 1782, the day before the Bank of North America sold its first charter shares, her father and grandfather working closely with Alexander Hamilton to write the by-laws. Her father was rumored to be the richest man in America after the Revolutionary War.[1]

Her younger sister, Maria Matilda Bingham, married three times. First to French aristocrat, Jacques Alexandre, Count of Tilly. Afterwards she married Anne Louisa's brother-in-law, Henry Baring. After their divorce in 1824, she married the Marquess of Blaisel in 1826.[2]

1842 portrait of her husband, Lord Ashburton, by George Peter Alexander Healy

On 23 August 1798, Ann was married to Alexander Baring (1774–1848), a son of Harriet Herring and Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet.[3] Among his siblings were Sir Thomas Baring, 2nd Baronet and Henry Baring (an MP for Bossiney[4] and Colchester),[5] His father, alongside his uncle John Baring, established the London merchant house of John and Francis Baring Company, which eventually became Barings Bank.[6] Together, Ann and Alexander had nine children:[7]

• Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton (1799–1864), who married Lady Harriet Montagu, eldest daughter of George Montagu, 6th Earl of Sandwich.[8]
• Francis Baring, 3rd Baron Ashburton (1800–1868), who married Hortense Maret (c. 1812–1882), daughter of Hughes-Bernard Maret, 1st Duke of Bassano, Prime Minister of France.
• Hon. Harriet Baring (1804–1892), married Henry Thynne, 3rd Marquess of Bath.[9]
• Hon. Rev. Frederick Baring (1806–1868), Rector of Itchen Stoke, married Frederica Ashton on 24 April 1831.[7]
• Hon. Anne Eugenia Baring (d. 1839), married Humphrey St John-Mildmay.[7]
• Alexander Baring (1810–1832), who died on board HMS Alfred in the Mediterranean.[7]
• Hon. Arthur Baring (1818–1838), who died unmarried.[7]
• Hon. Louisa Emily Baring (d. 1888)[7]
• Hon. Lydia Emily Baring (d. 1868)[7]

In 1835, her husband was created the first Baron Ashburton in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.[10]

Lord Ashburton died on 12 May 1848 at Longleat, Wiltshire. Lady Ashburton died several months later on 5 December 1848 at Bay House in Gosport.[7]