Roberte Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough explained
Roberte Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, (née Poupart de Neuflize; 15 September 1892 – 22 November 1979), was a French noblewoman who married into the English aristocracy and served as Viceregal Consort of Canada in the 1930s.
Early life
She was the only daughter of Baron Jean Poupart de Neuflize and Madeleine Dolfuss-Davilliers and grew up in the family home, 7 Rue Alfred-de-Vigny, a hôtel particulier in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. She had two older brothers, André Poupart de Neuflize (who married the American heiress Eva Barbey),[1] [2] [3] and Jacques Poupart de Neuflize, a banker who succeeded their father in running the family bank.[4]
Her mother was a granddaughter of French industrialist Jean Dollfus.[5]
Personal life
On 25 June 1912, she married Vere Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon (1880–1956), son of Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough, and Blanche Vere Guest; she held the courtesy title of Viscountess Duncannon.[6] Her husband inherited the title of Earl of Bessborough upon the death of his father on 1 December 1920, whereupon Roberte became the Countess of Bessborough. Together, they had three sons (two of whom predeceased their parents) and a daughter:[7]
- Frederick Edward Neuflize Ponsonby, 10th Earl of Bessborough (1913–1993), who married Mary Munn, a daughter of Charles A. Munn Jr. and Mary Astor Paul,[8] in 1948.[7]
- Hon. Desmond Neuflize Ponsonby (1915–1925), who died after a riding accident.[7]
- Lady Moyra Blanche Madeleine Ponsonby (1918–2016), who married, as his second wife, Sir Denis John Wolko Browne, a son of Sylvester J. Browne, in 1945. Sir Denis' first wife, Helen de Guerry Simpson, died from cancer in 1940.[9]
- Lt. Hon. George St Lawrence Neuflize Ponsonby (1931–1951),[10] who died unmarried.[7]
In 1924, they purchased a country house in England, known as Stansted House in Stoughton, West Sussex.[11] On 2 June 1937, her husband was created Earl of Bessborough in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (the earlier earldom was created in the Peerage of Ireland).[7]
Lord Bessborough died at Stansted House on 10 March 1956,[12] and Lady Bessborough died in 1978.
Honours
She was invested as a Dame Grand Cross, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (GC.St.J). She was decorated with the Chevalier, Legion of Honour. She held the office of Justice of the Peace for West Sussex between 1943 and 1956.[13]
Notes and References
- News: TIMES . Wireless to THE NEW YORK . Robs Baroness de Neuflize Of $40,000 Gems in Paris . 16 June 2020 . . 26 April 1938.
- News: MISS BARBEY ENGAGED.; Daughter of the Late Henry Barbey of New York to Wed Gilbert Elliott. . 18 February 2018 . . 3 August 1910.
- News: WEDDINGS OF A DAY; De Neuflize--Barbey. . 16 June 2020 . . 11 February 1903.
- News: BARON DE NEUFLIZE DIES; French Banker Lectured Here and Wrote 'on' Finance . 16 June 2020 . . 17 January 1953.
- Book: of) . Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de La Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvigny Ruvigny and Raineval (9th marquis . The Titled Nobility of Europe: An International Peerage, Or "Who's Who", of the Sovereigns, Princes and Nobles of Europe . 1914 . Harrison & Sons . 1074 . 15 June 2020 . en.
- News: Times . Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph To the New York . WEDS LORD DUNCANNON.; Baron Neuflize's Daughter Married to Lord Bessborough's Heir. . 16 June 2020 . . 26 June 1912.
- Web site: Bessborough, Earl of (I, 1739) . www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk . Heraldic Media Limited . 15 June 2020.
- News: MISS MARY MUNN ENGAGED TO PEER; She Will Be Bride of Viscount Duncannon, Son of Former Canadian Governor General . 17 June 2020 . . 11 August 1948.
- Web site: Browne, Sir Denis John Wolko (1892–1967) . . 1 December 2015.
- News: FOURTH CHILD IS BORN TO LADY BESSBOROUGH; King George Cables Wish to Serve as Godfather to Son of Canadian Governor General. . 17 June 2020 . . 15 August 1931.
- Web site: Home > History > Former Governors General > British > The Earl of Bessborough 1931–1935 . Office of the Governor General of Canada . Queen's Printer for Canada . 5 September 2015.
- News: Times . Special to The New York Times The New York . BESSBOROUGH, 75, DEAD IN ENGLAND; Canada's Governor-General in 1931-35 Helped Guide It to More Independence Business Man and Diplomat Board Chairman of Unilever Made Announcement on Bonds . 17 June 2020 . . 11 March 1956.
- Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd., 2003), volume 1, page 363.
