Petronilla Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham, Countess of Chesterfield (1 April 1693 – 16 September 1778) was the natural daughter of King

George I of Great Britain George I (George Louis; ; 28 May 1660 – 11 June 1727) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 1 August 1714 and ruler of the Electorate of Hanover within the Holy Roman Empire from 23 January 1698 until his death in 1727. ...

and his longtime mistress,

Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal Ehrengard Melusine von der Schulenburg, ''suo jure'' Duchess of Kendal and Duchess of Munster (25 December 166710 May 1743) was a longtime mistress to King George I of Great Britain. Early life She was born at Emden in the Duchy of Magdeburg. ...

Biography

In 1722, Melusina was created Baroness Aldborough and Countess of Walsingham as a life peer. After the death of her father in 1727, she lived mainly with her mother at Kendal House in

Isleworth Isleworth ( ) is a suburban town in the London Borough of Hounslow, West London, England. It lies immediately east of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane, London, River Crane. Isleworth's original area of ...

. In

, Middlesex, on 5 September 1733 Melusina married

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (22 September 169424 March 1773) was a British statesman, diplomat, man of letters, and an acclaimed wit of his time. Early life He was born in London to Philip Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Chesterfie ...

, a leading Whig politician. The couple had no children, but it is said that "family letters" suggest that Melusina may have been the mother, through an intimacy with

Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, (29 September 1699 – 24 April 1751) was a British politician and colonial administrator who served as the proprietary governor of the Province of Maryland. He inherited the title to Maryland aged just f ...

, of

Benedict Swingate Calvert Benedict Swingate Calvert (January 27, 1722 – January 9, 1788) was a planter, politician and a Loyalist (American Revolution), Loyalist in Maryland during the American Revolution. He was the son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, the ...

. Calvert was born in England in around 1730–32, the illegitimate son of the 5th Baron Baltimore, while his mother's identity is otherwise unknown.Washington, p. 176

References

Bibliography

* Washington, George Sydney Horace Lee, p. 176, "The Royal Stuarts in America" ''New England Historical and Genealogical Register'' (July 1950). 1693 births 1778 deaths Melusina Illegitimate children of British monarchs Children of George I of Great Britain English countesses English people of German descent 18th-century English people 17th-century English women 17th-century English people 18th-century English women Earls in the Peerage of Great Britain Life peeresses created by George I Melusina Daughters of kings Daughters of dukes Daughters of prince-electors {{GB-earl-stub