Elizabeth Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield


Elizabeth Stanhope, Countess of Chesterfield was the second wife of Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield.

Birth and origins

Elizabeth Butler was born on 29 June 1640 at Kilkenny Castle, Ireland, as the fifth child and the eldest daughter of James Butler and Lady Elizabeth Preston. Her father was Earl of Ormond at the time, but would become marquess and finally duke of Ormond. Her mother was the only child of Richard Preston, 1st Earl of Desmond and a rich heiress. Her parents married on Christmas 1629. They had 10 children, but five died in childhood.
She grew up at the West Gate Castle in Thurles, County Tipperary and was, before her marriage, known as Lady Thurles, a courtesy title.

Marriage and child

She married Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, as his second wife, some time before 25 September 1660. He was one of the lovers of the notorious Barbara Villiers, mistress of King Charles II of England. There were many at court who believed Barbara's first child, Anne bore a strong resemblance to Chesterfield. His first wife was Lady Anne Percy, daughter of Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland; she died on 29 November 1654 with no surviving children.


Together Elizabeth and Chesterfield had one daughter, Lady Elizabeth Stanhope, later Countess of Strathmore, although the child's paternity was in doubt. According to Samuel Pepys, theirs was a marriage of convenience, but Chesterfield, despite his own past conduct with Barbara Villiers, became jealous when rumours spread that his wife was having affairs with both James Hamilton and James, Duke of York, with whom she is said to have been caught in flagrante delicto. On the other hand, he describes Elizabeth as "a virtuous lady".
The chevalier de Grammont, in his memoirs, claims that King Charles II of England told him that his brother was in love with Elizabeth. He also says of Elizabeth that, "she had a most exquisite shape, though she was not very tall: her complexion was extremely fair, with all the expressive charms of a brunette: she had large blue eyes, very tempting and alluring: her manners were engaging: her wit lively and amusing; but her heart, ever open to tender sentiments, was neither scrupulous in point of constancy, nor nice in point of sincerity."
In May 1663, the couple went to live at Bretby in Derbyshire. It was around this time that their daughter, Elizabeth was born.
Her descendant James Lyons was a Taylor and his family remain in the town of Thurles to this day. One being the Baron Liscreagh and Earl of Loughmor, Sir Terence Barry CCtKC.

Death and legacy

She died in July 1665 shortly after her 25th birthday and was buried on 18 July 1665 at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
Her daughter, Lady Elizabeth, who was a child of two years at the time of Elizabeth's death, married John Lyon, 4th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1691; the couple had 10 children. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen consort of George VI of the United Kingdom was one of her many descendants.
Elizabeth's portrait was painted by Sir Peter Lely, and at one time belonged to Horace Walpole.