Lady Elizabeth Finch-Hatton

Heinrich Reichsgraf von Bünau residence (Dahlen castle)in Saxony, Germany.

Murray was born on 18 May 1760 in Warsaw, Poland-Lithuania. She was the daughter of David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield, by his first marriage to German Countess Henrietta Frederika von Bünau. Her maternal grandfather was Count Heinrich von Bünau. It was when her father was an ambassador to the Elector of Saxony in Dresden, that he (by then 7th Viscount Stormont) met the beautiful Countess Henrietta Frederika, daughter of Imperial Count Heinrich von Bünau.[4]

Imperial Countess Henrietta Friederika von Bünau by Marcello Bacciarelli

They went on to be married on 16 August 1759 in Warsaw, Poland. It was a love match, Lord Mansfield himself approved and encouraged his nephew and heir on his courtship. Even though Countess Henrietta was very wealthy, their marriage was unusual for a rising politician, by choosing to marry a foreign noblewoman, Stormont had forsaken the opportunity to gain more social and political connections from a British marriage like his uncle, instead his marriage was based purely upon romantic affection.[5]

During Stormont's embassy in Vienna, the role of an Ambassador's wife was significant, Countess Henrietta was a German-Saxon noblewoman therefore she could hold her own salon, which she did with considerable aplomb. Her father Count von Bünau had been an Imperial diplomat and was remembered in Vienna, therefore guaranteed Henrietta's own integration to the high society of Habsburg capital. The countess was a woman of enormous charm which captivated Prince Kaunitz, this made up for the relatively reserved manner of her husband. Prince Kaunitz was the most powerful State Chancellor and close advisor to Empress Maria Theresa, therefore the Countess helped secure her husband's admission to the private circle of the Habsburg ruling family, this made Viscount Stormont's embassy to Vienna a huge success.[6][5]

The couple had 2 children, Lady Elizabeth and Henrietta, the younger sister was born in Dresden but sadly died young in Vienna, followed closely by their mother Countess Henrietta, who died on 16 March 1766 in Vienna at the age of just 29. She was interred at Viennese prostestant church, but her heart was removed and encased in a golden vase which accompanied the Viscount everywhere he went and later the gold vase was taken to his ancestral seat Scone Palace.[4][7][5]

After the death of her mother in 1766, her father Viscount Stormont had a traumatic nervous breakdown and given extended leave of absence, the love of his life had passed away and now he was left a single parent, unfortunately due to his ambassadorial occupation and state of mind, he wasn't able to give Elizabeth a stable upbringing or care, so he arranged for Elizabeth to be brought up in England by his childless uncle William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield and his wife at Kenwood House. Stormont's unmarried sister Lady Anne would also come to help raise her niece, later Lord Mansfield would also take in his other great-niece brought from the West Indies Dido Belle.[7][8]

Lady Elizabeth Murray was 6 when she was brought up in Kenwood in Hampstead by her father's uncle Earl of Mansfield. Her father Viscount Stormont was to inherit his uncle's title and entire wealth including Kenwood House. She was joined shortly by her illegitimate 2nd cousin Dido Belle, it may have been possible that Lord Mansfield took Dido in order to give Elizabeth a playmate, as they were around the same age. While it is known that Belle had responsibility of managing the dairy and poultry yards and do menial tasks for her Great Uncle, as this was typical for women of the gentry, but many doubt that Lady Elizabeth has anything to do with dairy or poultry yards.[8]

Kenwood House, Hampstead, London

In 1766, one of 2 unmarried sisters of Viscount Stormont and aunt to Lady Elizabeth, Lady Anne Murray (1730–1817) would come to live at Kenwood at the same time as Elizabeth and Dido, they all were joined at a later date by the second sister Lady Marjory (1730–1799) before Lady Mansfield's death.[9]

Lady Elizabeth received £100 while Dido received £20 yearly allowance from their great uncle. The disparity may have arisen because of Dido's race and illegitimacy, but Lady Elizabeth possibly received more because her father was Mansfield's heir.[7]

Dido Belle and Lady Elizabeth had a close bond during their time at Kenwood, their bond was noted by an American visitor Thomas Hutchinson to Kenwood in 1779, around the time their portrait was painted by David Martin.[10]

Lord Mansfield had a particular affection for Lady Elizabeth, he would take her riding to visit neighbours.[11] In 1778, Boscawen wrote that she had received an exceeding honor when Lord Mansfield rode with Miss Eliza Murray to pay her a visit. After the visit, Lord Mansfield remounted his palfrey with "his fair niece" and went back to Kenwood, but not long a heavy shower fell which caused Boscawen great disturbance, but "Miss E Murray was so good to write me that they escaped the rain".[12]

After 10 years of her mother's death, eventually her father Viscount Stormont remarried for a second time to Louisa Cathcart, daughter of Lord Cathcart on 6 May 1776.[13] Lady Elizabeth's father often visited her and she also regularly visited her father and her stepmother at Wandsworth Hill and at their London home, as a couple of letters have been found, in which she wrote to Mary Hamilton about the birth of Louisa's 3rd son, Charles. Eliz also referred to her stepmother as "our dear Lady Stormont" indicating a warm relationship between stepmother and stepdaughter. Eliz would write more letters from Kenwood and Wandsworth to Mary Hamilton (Louisa's cousin and close friend).[8]

Her father had wanted to bring Lady Elizabeth to Paris where he was the ambassador, but "Lady Mansfield won't hear of letting her go with us, which I regret exceedingly." [14] On March 1778, France declared support for American revolutionary against the British, and the ambassadors to both countries were hastily recalled. Lord Stormont returned back to England at the end of March, just in time for Elizabeth's 18th Birthday on May.[15]

On 7 August 1784 Mary Hamilton visited Kenwood and provided a glimpse into how she viewed Lady Elizabeth:

"went with Miss Eliza Murray to see some of her works she showed me 3 beautiful aprons she was About -- she is a remarkably nice & a good Musician for she not only plays in a Masterly manner but is a composer." from her other account "Miss Murray is Lord Stormont's only child by his first wife who died when she was very young.-----She lives with Lord Mansfield & was educated by the ye. late Lady Mansfield & two of Lord Stormont's Sisters who also reside with Lord Mansfield. She is pleasing, good humour'd—well accomplished, & conducts herself with  that propriety which ought to distinguish a woman of fashion & good education."[16]

Royal Balls

In the spring of 1784, The Prince of Wales begged Mary Hamilton's uncle to invite Mary Hamilton to attend a Royal ball to which Lady Stormont was also invited. On the day of the ball, 10 March, Hamilton wrote in her diary that her cousin Lady Stormont had invited her stepdaughter Lady Elizabeth to the Prince's royal ball at Carlton house, and Eliz was present when Lady Stormont picked up Hamilton on the way to the ball in her carriage, they arrived at the ball together and greeted right away by the Prince. Although Lady Elizabeth was invited, Dido Belle evidently wasn't invited to the royal ball.[16][17][18]

Elizabeth's father Lord Stormont was a prominent aristocrat and would regularly invite Elizabeth to court functions and Royal balls.

On 16 February 1781, Mary Hamilton described the Royal Ball held at Queen's House, where Lady Elizabeth was noted to be one of the dancing ladies, her father Lord Stormont and Lady Stormont were also present. The ball began with country dances and the partners were changed after each two dances, Queen Charlotte sat in the Ball Room the whole evening, the Prince of Wales danced with or asked most of the ladies to dance, the ball ended at half past five. Hamilton also noted that all ladies including Elizabeth dressed in Sack-back gown and lappets.[19]

Queen Charlotte in Sack-Back gown by Gainsborough, 1781.

On 12 August 1781, Lady Elizabeth attended another Royal ball at Windsor Castle with her father Lord Stormont, her stepmother Lady Stormont was absent as she was pregnant at the time. The ball was in honor of the Prince of Wales's birthday, the court dances were held in St Georges Hall. Lady Elizabeth was noted by Hamilton to be among the young ladies who danced at the ball.[20]

Lady Elizabeth was also invited to her stepmother Lady Stormont's ball in January 1782 at her house, this is where she met her future husband George Finch Hatton, as he was amongst the guests' list, the list also included Lady Weymouth, Lord Lucan, Lord Melbourne, Duke of Dorset, Duchess of Sutherland, Earl and Countess of Aylesford, and Mary Hamilton.[21]

Sadly her cousin and companion Dido Belle wasn't invited to any of the balls, partially due to her illegitimate status. Throughout Mary Hamilton's diary, she had never once mentioned Dido Belle, despite her numerous visits to Kenwood and several outings with the Murray family, in which she had described all members of the family.

Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire

On 15 December 1785, at the age of 25 Lady Elizabeth Mary Murray married George Finch-Hatton in a love match, at Lord Mansfield's town house by special license. George was from the Aristocratic Finch family and was Lady Mansfield's nephew. He inherited Eastwell Park in 1769 from his uncle 8th Earl of Winchilsea and Kirby Hall from his father in 1771. George also became the heir to his Grandfather titles Earl of Winchilsea upon the death of his unmarried cousin 9th Earl.[8] Eliz's stepmother described them as very much attached in one of her letters:

"Miss Murray happily matched with a person who is very much attached to her.... worthy of her. this Mr Hatton Finch Nephew to Lady Mansfield he has very good fortune. perhaps you know one of his place Kirby in Northamptonshire."[22]

After the wedding service by Archbishop of York, the married couple head to Kenwood for the wedding celebrations. After, Lady Elizabeth finally left Kenwood and started her married life at her husband 2 vast estates, Kirby Hall and Eastwell Park.[8] Lady Elizabeth's dowry was around £17,000 ( £10,000 from Lord Mansfield and £7,000 from her father).[8] She would also inherit her aunts £22,000 in due times. Lady Elizabeth's total Inheritance was around £40,000.[9]

Eastwell Park at Ashford, Kent. Demolished in 1926 and rebuilt as Eastwell Manor. (Lost Heritage)

George and Lady Elizabeth had 7 children :

1. Louisa Anne (d. 1 March 1875) m. Charles Hope(1768–1828), son of 2nd Earl of Hopetoun.
2. Anna Maria (d. 2 Dec 1838)
3. Elizabeth Henrietta (d.1820)
4. George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea (19 May 1791 – 8 January 1858), had issue 11th Earl of Winchilsea.
5. Edward Frederick, Lieut. died aged 20.
6. Rev. Daniel Heneage Finch-Hatton (1795 – Jan 1866) m. Lady Louisa Greville, daughter of 2nd Countess of Mansfield.
7. Emily Finch-Hatton (b.1797) m. Alfred Charnley Lawrence, had issue.[23]

they rebuilt Eastwell Park between 1793-1799, George gave instructions to his architect, Joseph Bonomi, to ensure that his wife Lady Elizabeth was given a large dressing room. this plan was carried out and published in Vitruvius Britannicus.[24]The new house was built on a magnificent scale, with an imposing frontage, suites of splendid state apartments.[25]

From the society page of the day, Lady Elizabeth Finch-Hatton was quite a social butterfly, she socialised with people within her aristocratic circle, she also attended and hosted Balls, one of which was the Ball she arranged for her three younger daughters:

“Saint James Chronicle 10 May 1817 Lady Finch Hatton's Ball – this elegant Lady opened Mansfield House, in Portland Place, on Thursday evening, with a ball and supper. It was a juvenile party, for the express purpose of introducing the three accomplished Misses Hatton into the fashionable world.”[8]

Lady Elizabeth seemed to have close relationship with her half brother the 3rd Earl of Mansfield, as he would sometimes be educated at Kenwood, he named his second born daughter after Elizabeth and their aunt Lady Anne. He would also let Lady Elizabeth to host balls at Mansfield House, 37 Portland Place, it was the most luxurious townhouse in the street, purchased by their father for a staggering £8,000 in 1778 and furnished for a further £7,000, it was a house they both frequented a lot growing up.[26][6]

Death

Countess Henrietta Frederica's memorial at Scone Palace

She died at York Place, Edinburgh on 1 June 1825, aged 65.

• Let Justice Be Done by Mixed Blessings Theatre Group – a 2008 play featuring the possible influence that Elizabeth Lindsay's cousin Dido Elizabeth Belle might have had on the Somerset v Stewart ruling of 1772.
• Sarah Gadon portrayed Lady Elizabeth in the film Belle (2013).