Etheldreda Townshend
Etheldreda Townshend | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Audrey Etheldreda Harrison 1708 |
| Died | 5 March 1788 (aged 79–80) |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | aristocrat |
| Known for | notorious society hostess |
| Spouse | Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend |
| Partner(s) | Thomas Winnington (1696–1746), William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, Lord Frederick Campbell and Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland |
Audrey Etheldreda Townshend born Audrey Etheldreda Harrison became Lady Lynn and later Etheldreda, Viscountess Townshend (1708 – 5 March 1788) was an English society hostess.
Life
She was born in 1708 and she was known as "Etheldreda".[1] Her parents were Frances and Edward Harrison of Balls Park in Hertfordshire. Her father had been an MP, a governor of a fort in Madras and in 1767 the chair of the East India Company. She was one of four children, but the others died and she became the sole heiress.[2]
On 29 May 1723, she married
Etheldreda was described as "a frolicsome dame". She had friendships with powerful men.[4] Thomas Winnington became her lover in 1742. He died in 1746, as did the next object of her attentions. She became a Jacobite (briefly), as she admired William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, but he had led troops against the king and he was hanged.[2]
References
- ^ "Collections Online | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/68358. Retrieved 14 October 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ "TOWNSHEND, Hon. Charles (1700-64)". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-300-21897-8.