Lady Sarah Lennox

Lady Sarah Lennox (14 February 1745 – August 1826) was the most notorious of the famous Lennox sisters, daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and Sarah Cadogan.

Early life

Lady Sarah Lennox was born on 14 February 1745, the sixth surviving child of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and his wife Sarah Cadogan. She was born into great wealth and connections. Her paternal grandfather, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, was an illegitimate son of King Charles II. Through this connection, the 1st Duke had been granted many titles in England and France, and perhaps more importantly, wealth through an annuity and a share of certain coal taxes in Newcastle. This coal allocation would become a significant source of the family's wealth, as mining and manufacturing grew during the Industrial Revolution. The Lennox family's royal connections increased in 1727 when the 2nd Duke and Duchess's obtained court appointments under King George II and Queen Caroline.

Though arranged, her parents had a loving marriage and the family was large; Sarah was one of twelve children, seven of whom survived to adulthood. Compared to the rigid formality typical of the era, the Lennox family was inseparable and unconstrained. Young Sarah was considered lively in an already energetic family. By the time she was six years old, however, both of her parents were dead. Consequently, she and her nearest siblings Louisa and Cecilia were brought up by their elder sister Emily FitzGerald, Countess of Kildare at Carton House in County Kildare, Ireland. At age fourteen Sarah returned to London with a dowry of £10,000 to find a worthy husband, staying at Holland House, the home of another sister, Lady Caroline Fox. Described by Caroline as "immensely pretty" and in possession of a "vastly engaging" manner, Sarah was also at first awkward and unsure of her attractions. She soon gained a reputation for beauty; her brother-in-law Henry Fox characterised her as "different from & prettyer than any other girl eever saw... her beauty is not easily described, otherwise by saying she had the finest complexion, most beautiful hair, with a sprightly and fine air, a pretty mouth, remarkably fine teeth & excess of bloom in her cheeks".

Sarah, a favourite of King George II since childhood, was invited to appear at court and caught the eye of his grandson George, Prince of Wales (soon to be King George III). Over a two-year period, he fell in love with her and eventually confided his feelings in his advisor Lord Bute, who told him marriage plans with a non-royal spouse were not possible. Sarah, flattered by the attention and fond of the newly crowned king, was later surprised and disappointed to learn of his betrothal to Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She was chief bridesmaid at their wedding and in later life expressed relief that she had not become queen.

Family and marriages

At age seventeen, Lady Sarah began worrying about finding a good match. Her three elder sisters had done well in their marriages. Sarah was briefly engaged to Lord Newbattle. Charles Bunbury, twenty-two year old MP for Suffolk, often attended political discussions at Holland House and began courting her. Though the eldest son of Reverend Sir William Bunbury, 5th Baronet, he was not considered by her family to have a large enough fortune for them to live in fashionable society. Nonetheless, her sister Caroline was ready for her matchmaking duties to be over and the match was approved. Sarah married Bunbury on 2 June 1762 at Holland House Chapel. He succeeded his father as sixth Baronet in 1764.

Upon their marriage, they went to live at Barton Hall, his country estate in Suffolk. Their relationship soon became difficult; Bunbury was distant and Sarah was anxious for his affection. She helped her husband's political career and was an effective campaigner. In 1767, she reportedly secured 94 out of 100 votes while campaigning in Morpeth.

Sarah had several affairs including with her cousin Lord William Gordon, the second son of the Duke of Gordon. She gave birth to his illegitimate daughter in 1769 and did not try to hide that the child was not her husband's. Bunbury initiated divorce proceedings, an uncommon process in the 18th century. It took several years and eventually was granted through an Act of Parliament in 1776.

The child was not immediately disclaimed by Sir Charles, and received the name Louisa Bunbury. Nevertheless, Lady Sarah and Lord William eloped shortly afterwards, in February 1769, taking the infant with them. Lord William soon abandoned her. Sir Charles refused to take her back, and Lady Sarah returned to her brother's house with her child, while her husband introduced into Parliament a motion for a divorce on grounds of adultery, citing her elopement. Lady Sarah resisted the motion, and it was not until 14 May 1776 that the decree of divorce was issued.

Lady Sarah married an army officer, Hon. George Napier, on 27 August 1781 and had eight children:

* General Sir Charles James Napier (10 August 1782 – 29 August 1853); married Elizabeth Oakeley in April 1827. He remarried Frances Philipp in 1835.
* Emily Louisa Augusta Napier (11 July 1783 – 18 March 1863); married Lt.-Gen. Sir Henry Bunbury, 7th Baronet (nephew of her mother's first husband) on 22 September 1830
* Lieutenant-General Sir George Thomas Napier (30 June 1784 – 8 September 1855); married Margaret Craig on 22 October 1812. They had five children. He married Frances Blencowe in 1839.
* Lieutenant-General Sir William Francis Patrick Napier KCB (17 December 1785 – 12 February 1860); married Caroline Fox (granddaughter of his aunt Lady Caroline Fox) on 14 March 1812. They had five children.
* Richard Napier (1787 – 13 January 1868); married Anna Louisa Stewart, daughter of Sir J. Stewart, in 1817.
* Captain Henry Edward Napier RN (5 March 1789 – 13 October 1853); married Caroline Bennett. They had three children.
* Caroline Napier (1790–1810); died at the age of twenty.
* Cecilia Napier (1791–1808); died at the age of seventeen.

In popular culture

In 1999, a six-part mini-series based on the lives of Sarah Lennox and her sisters aired in the UK. It was called ''Aristocrats'', and Sarah was played by actress Jodhi May.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lennox, Sarah
Daughters of British dukes
1745 births
1826 deaths
Women of the Regency era
British royal favourites
Sarah
Sarah
Wives of baronets