The first man in Alexandra's life was, of course, her father, Lord Edward Campbell. Lord Edward adored his little daughter and his beautiful wife, Georgiana. Alexandra's mother surrendered her life when Alexandra was not quite three years old, however, and for years, Lord Edward was unable to look at Alexandra without recalling the loss of his wife. On his way to her wedding, Lord Edward told her she had only to look in a mirror to know what her mother looked like. We shall not know, yet, what Alexandra looks like--that we won't know until the cover comes out on Richard Berkeley's Bride. This is precisely the same problem we face with Richard. We won't know this until the cover goddess works her wonderful magic.
There are a number of people Alexandra is very familiar with, however, and whose pictures are available to us to see. First is her beloved grandfather, Lord John Campbell, the fourth Duke of Argyll. Take a look at this imposing man.
There are a number of people Alexandra is very familiar with, however, and whose pictures are available to us to see. First is her beloved grandfather, Lord John Campbell, the fourth Duke of Argyll. Take a look at this imposing man.
Lord John Campbell, the 4th Duke of Argyll This is His Grace of Argyll in his ducal robes. In his younger years he'd served King George II as a general in the British Army. He married Lady Mary Bellenden and together they brought a daughter, Caroline and five sons into the world--a sixth, if you count the fictional son I gave him, Lord Edward Campbell. No matter who or what he was, he was Alexandra's beloved grandfather, a man whose memory she cherished all her life.
Lord John Campbell, the 5th Duke of Argyll This is Lord John Campbell, the fifth Duke of Argyll, Alexandra's favorite uncle.
Lord John married Elizabeth, the Duchess of Hamilton. After her husband, John ascended to his title of Duke of Argyll, Duchess Elizabeth was known as the double duchess. She had the distinction of being the mother of four duke, two Dukes of Hamilton and two Dukes of Argyll. She was also known as one of the most beautiful women in England.
Lord John married Elizabeth, the Duchess of Hamilton. After her husband, John ascended to his title of Duke of Argyll, Duchess Elizabeth was known as the double duchess. She had the distinction of being the mother of four duke, two Dukes of Hamilton and two Dukes of Argyll. She was also known as one of the most beautiful women in England.
Elizabeth, the Duchess of Hamilton and Argyll This is a picture of Duchess Elizabeth in her Hamilton ducal robes. She gave the Duke of Hamilton three children before his death, Elizabeth (or Betty), James, who succeeded his father as the 7th Duke of Hamilton and Douglas, who succeeded his brother as the 8th Duke. After her marriage to Lt. General John Campbell, she gave him five more children: Lord George John, who died in infancy, Lady Augusta, Lord George William, who became the 6th Duke of Argyll, Charlotte and Lord John Douglas Edward, who became the 7th Duke of Argyll. Whew!
Lady Elizabeth Hamilton This is a picture of Alexandra's favorite cousin, Elizabeth--or Betty. She'll be met in the last chapter of Richard Berkeley's Bride. In her youth, Betty had an insouciant personality. All that changed after her mother more or less forced her into a marriage with Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, an extremely wealthy man. The problem was that, although she was the only daughter of a duke, her mother had spent her entire dowry in a vain attempt to save her brother James's dukedom from the grasping claws of the Duchess of Douglas. To further complicate matters, Betty had already lost her heart to John Frederick Sackville who became the 3rd Duke of Dorset. Betty, always an irrepressible girl, maintained a giddy whirl of social events during the brief years of her marriage (and the tiresome but necessary pursuit of attempting to provide her husband with the necessary heir and his spare). Eventually, she left her husband and children to run to the waiting arms of the Duke of Dorset. Unfortunately, once he had her, he was less eager to marry her. Poor Betty discovered what many another before her had learned--that a lady may commit any indiscretion, as long as it remains a private matter. Once the papers of the day learned her story, Queen Charlotte also never again admitted her to court. Neither did a lot of other hostesses of the day. Poor Betty died, a sad and lonely woman, at the age of 44.
This is Mary, who became the Duchess of Richmond and Lennox after her marriage. She is another of Alexandra's cousins. A bit of scandal attended her birth. She was born before 1736--but her mother wasn't married to Thomas Bruce, her father, until 3 years later. Happily, Lord Thomas Bruce succeeded his father as 4th Earl of Elgin. Her mother, Caroline was not a favorite aunt of Alexandra's--nor was Mary a favorite cousin.
Ann Damer, nee Seymour-Conway This is Ann Seymour-Damer. She is Mary's much younger sister. Ann was born in 1748 and married a man, John Damer, who stood to inherit an earldom one day. He never made it--committed suicide well before that time. He was a fop...a well-known one...who gambled away a fortune. Ann took a house near her cousin, Horace Walpole and lived there for the remainder of her life.
A bust of Caroline Campbell, Lady Ailesbury This is a marble bust of Ann's mother, Caroline, Lady Ailesbury. Caroline was a child of fourteen years old when her daughter, Mary was conceived. When she married Lord Thomas Bruce, in 1739, she was eighteen years of age and was known as a beauty. It is apparent that she must have been. This sculpture was created by her daughter, Ann, who became a famous sculptress in her later years. Lady Ailesbury won't be met until Dreams Within Dreams is released, in May, 2014.
Lord William Campbell This is Lord William Campbell who bore the distinction of being the last Royal Governor of South Carolina before the Revolutionary War. After sending his wife and children to safety outside Charleston, he escaped the city on a small boat that came up a branch of Vanderhorst’s Creek to the back of his garden.
Afterward, he went aboard the British warship Tamar and joined up with Sir Peter Parker, a British admiral in Cape Fear. Lord William was wounded during the First Battle of Charleston, 28 June, 1776 while aboard Sir Peter Parker's flagship, HMS Bristol. He returned to London to recover from his wound and rejoined his wife and children. Lord William married a wealthy
and very pretty lady from Charleston, Sarah Izard during his first visit to Charleston in April, 1763. A painting of her exists by Nathaniel Hone. Their children were William and Louisa Anne. Lord William never fully recovered from the effects of his wound and died in England two years later, on 5 September, 1778. As it happened, he died within days of his brother Edward who had been wounded in the same battle.
Afterward, he went aboard the British warship Tamar and joined up with Sir Peter Parker, a British admiral in Cape Fear. Lord William was wounded during the First Battle of Charleston, 28 June, 1776 while aboard Sir Peter Parker's flagship, HMS Bristol. He returned to London to recover from his wound and rejoined his wife and children. Lord William married a wealthy
and very pretty lady from Charleston, Sarah Izard during his first visit to Charleston in April, 1763. A painting of her exists by Nathaniel Hone. Their children were William and Louisa Anne. Lord William never fully recovered from the effects of his wound and died in England two years later, on 5 September, 1778. As it happened, he died within days of his brother Edward who had been wounded in the same battle.
Lord Frederick Campbell Meet Lord Frederick Campbell, the youngest of Alexandra's uncles. Lord Frederick is met in Dreams Within Dreams where he protests Richard's appointment as his brother, Edward's, executor.
I hope you've enjoyed a brief glimpse at Alexandra's illustrious family. Other than Lord Edward, her husband Richard and herself, these people really lived.
I hope you've enjoyed a brief glimpse at Alexandra's illustrious family. Other than Lord Edward, her husband Richard and herself, these people really lived.