Mary Stopford, Countess of Courtown (died 1810) explained

Mary Stopford, Countess of Courtown (1736 - 3 January 1810), formerly Mary Powys, was the wife of James Stopford, 2nd Earl of Courtown.

Mary was the daughter of Richard Powys, MP, of Hintlesham Hall,^[1] Suffolk, and his wife, the former Lady Mary Brudenell.^[2] Her sister Elizabeth married Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney. Following their father's death in 1743, their mother remarried, her second husband being Thomas Bowlby, MP.^[3]

Mary married the future earl on 19 April 1762 at St. George's, Hanover Square, when he was an MP representing an Irish constituency. The earl and countess had four sons:

• James George Stopford, 3rd Earl of Courtown (1765-1835)
• Lt.-Gen. Hon. Sir Edward Stopford (1766–1837), who died unmarried, leaving one illegitimate child^[4]
• Admiral Hon. Sir Robert Stopford (1768–1874), who married Mary Fanshawe and had children
• Reverend Hon. Richard Bruce Stopford (1774–1844), who married Hon. Eleanor Powys and had children

They also had one daughter, who is not mentioned as living in the countess's obituary.^{[1] [5]}

The countess's portrait was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds^[6]

The countess died at her home in Ham Common, Surrey, when "far advanced in life",^[7] and was buried at Deene, Northamptonshire.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Book: The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. 1810. E. Cave. 93–.
2. G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume III, page 469.
3. Book: Lewis Namier. John Brooke. The House of Commons 1754-1790. 1985. Boydell & Brewer. 978-0-436-30420-0. 1–.
4. 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 923.
5. Web site: STOPFORD, James, 2nd Earl of Courtown [I] (1731-1810).]. History of Parliament. 21 June 2014.
6. Web site: Past Auction. artnet. 30 January 2018.
7. Book: The Literary Panorama. 1810. 1007–.
8. Web site: Mary Powys Stopford (1736-1810) - Find A Grave.... 2021-06-29. www.findagrave.com. en.