Marcia Arbuthnot (9 July 1774 – 24 May 1806) was the first wife of politician Charles Arbuthnot.

Portrait of Marcia Arbuthnot.

Life

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She was born Marcia Mary Anne Clapcott Lisle, the daughter of William Clapcott Lisle of Upwey, Dorset and his wife Hester Cholmondeley, the daughter of George Cholmondeley, Viscount Malpas).[1][2] Her father was the son of Warren Lisle, a celebrated customs officer who engaged at sea with smugglers. William took over his post, searcher of the customs at Weymouth, Dorset, in 1773, the year in which he married Hester. He died before 1790.[3][4][5][6] Marcia had a younger sister Emma Horatia (1777–1797).[6][7]

Hester Lisle was presented at court on 20 March 1794, with Marcia.[8] Horace Walpole wrote to Mary Berry of "my nieces the Lisles" dining with him on 20 September 1794.[9] The editors of Walpole's correspondence comment on the relationship (he was a great-uncle of Hester); and that an older sister, Harriot Hester Lisle (born ?1774) was presumably dead by then, consistent with another source saying William was survived by two daughters.[5][10] Hester Lisle became a Lady-in-Waiting to Caroline of Brunswick, joining her household from the time in 1795 when she married George, Prince of Wales, so becoming Princess of Wales.[11] She died in 1828.[12]

Lord Minto described a grand dinner at Montagu House, Blackheath in December 1798, given by the Princess, at which "Mrs. and Miss Lisle" were guests.[13][14] Marcia married Arbuthnot on 28 February 1799 at Cholmondeley House, Piccadilly.

Death

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Marcia Arbuthnot died in Constantinople on 24 May 1806 in childbirth,[15] "after seven years of perfect happiness",[16] while her husband was Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Her mother erected a memorial plaque to Marcia in Plympton church.[17]

Arbuthnot remarried, his second wife being Harriet Fane (1793–1834), who became a notable political hostess.[18] Her portrait was painted by John Hoppner and an engraving of the portrait was made by Samuel Reynolds.[19]

Family

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The children of Charles and Marcia Arbuthnot were:

References

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  1. ^ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003. Page 784.
  2. ^ Debrett's Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 1825. p. 95.
  3. ^ "Lisle, Warren (c.1695-1788), of Upway, Dorset. History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  4. ^ Atton, Henry; Holland, Henry H. (June 1968). Kings Customs: An Account Of Maritime Revenue And Contraband Traffic. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-7146-1266-9.
  5. ^ a b Norris, Hugh; Mayo, Charles Herbert; Weaver, Frederic William (1888). Notes & queries for Somerset and Dorset. Bridport: Printed by C. J. Creed [etc.] p. 77.
  6. ^ a b Hutchins, John; Shipp, William; Hodson, James Whitworth (1973). The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Vol. I. EP Pub. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-85409-855-2.
  7. ^ "Memorial to Emma Horatia Lisle from Hampton Church - YCBA Collections Search". collections.britishart.yale.edu.
  8. ^ Kassler, Michael (24 March 2021). The Diary of Queen Charlotte, 1789 and 1794: Memoirs of the Court of George III, Volume 4. Routledge. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-000-41983-2.
  9. ^ Berry, Mary (1865). Extracts of the Journals and Correspondence of Miss Berry: From the Year 1783 to 1852. Longmans, Green. p. 436.
  10. ^ Walpole, Horace (1937). The Yale Edition of Horace Walpole's Correspondence. Vol. XII. Yale University Press. p. 102 note 7.
  11. ^ Great Britain Commissioners appointed to inquire into the conduct of Caroline, Princess of Wales (1813). "The book", being an inquiry, or delicate investigation into the conduct of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales ... With the defence of Her Royal Highness, at full length. Printed from an authentic copy, prepared for the press, by Mr. Spencer Perceval, etc. John Fairburn. p. 67.
  12. ^ "Arbuthnot, Charles George James (1801-1870). History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org.
  13. ^ Minto, Gilbert Elliot Earl of (1874). Life and Letters of Sir Gilbert Elliot, First Earl of Minto, from 1751 to 1806. Longmans, Green and Company. p. 35.
  14. ^ Fraser, Flora (11 March 2012). The Unruly Queen: The Life of Queen Caroline. A&C Black. pp. 1786–1787. ISBN 978-1-4088-3254-7.
  15. ^ Smith, E. A. (1994). Wellington and the Arbuthnots: A Triangular Friendship. Alan Sutton Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7509-0629-6.
  16. ^ "ARBUTHNOT, Charles (1767-1850), of Woodford, Northants". History of Parliament. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  17. ^ Arbuthnot, Alexander John; Arbuthnot, Constance (1910). Memories of Rugby and India. London: T. Fisher Unwin. p. 3.
  18. ^ The journal of Mrs. Arbuthnot, 1820–1832, edited by Bamford, F., and the Duke of Wellington (editors) (London, MacMillan, 1950)
  19. ^ "Marcia Mary Anne Arbuthnot (née Lisle)". National Gallery. Retrieved 14 March 2018.