Social Victorians/People/Gerard

Also Known As edit

  • Family name: Gerard
  • Baron Gerard of Bryn
    • William Cansfield Gerard, 2nd Baron Gerard of Bryn (15 March 1887 – 30 July 1902)[1]
    • Frederick John Gerard, 3rd Baron Gerard of Bryn (30 July 1902 – 12 February 1953)[2]

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies edit

Timeline edit

1877 August 7, Mary Emmeline Laura Milner and William Cansfield Gerard married.

1897 July 2, Friday, Lady Mary Gerard attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House.

 
Mary, Lady Gerard in costume as Astarte, Goddess of the Moon. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball edit

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Lady Mary Gerard (at 256) was among the goddesses.[3]

  • "Lady Gerard, as Astarte, appeared in a soft black gown caught with a silver gauze sash and made with wing sleeves embroidered in silver, and further ornamented with a jewelled band round the waist."[4]:p. 3, Col. 4a
  • "Lady Gerard was successful as 'Astarte' in a soft black gown caught with a silver gauze sash, and made with wing sleeves embroidered in silver and further ornamented with a jewelled band round the waist."[5]:p. 6, Col. 1a [6]:p. 6, Col. 1a
  • "Lady Gerard, as 'Astarte,' was in black with silver stars and high diamond crown."[7]:p. 5, Col. 1
  • Lady Gerard as "Queen of Tarsis."[8]:p. 40, Col. 2a

Lady Gerard's original costume ("beautiful attire in the character of 'Night'") appeared in the Drury Lane production of The White Heather.[9]

Mendelssohn's portrait of "Mary Emmeline Laura (née Milner), Lady Gerard as Astarte, Goddess of the Moon" in costume is photogravure #91 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery.[10] The printing on the portrait says, "Lady Gerard as Astarte, Goddess of the Moon," with a Long S in Goddess.[11]

Demographics edit

  • Nationality: British

Family edit

  • Mary Emmeline Laura Milner (5 November 1854 – 19 February 1918)[12]
  • William Cansfield Gerard, 2nd Baron Gerard of Bryn (1 June 1851 – 30 July 1902)[1]
  1. Hon. Ethel Catherine Hannah Gerard (16 May 1881 – 27 September 1966)
  2. Frederick John Gerard, 3rd Baron Gerard of Bryn (10 November 1883 – 12 February 1953)

Notes and Questions edit

  1. Lady Mary Gerard was at the ball, but where was her husband, Baron William Cansfield Gerard?

Footnotes edit

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Frederick John Gerard, 3rd Baron Gerard of Bryn." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  2. "Frederick John Gerard, 3rd Baron Gerard of Bryn." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  3. "Fancy Dress Ball at Devonshire House." Morning Post Saturday 3 July 1897: 7 [of 12], Col. 4a–8 Col. 2b. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000174/18970703/054/0007.
  4. “The Ball at Devonshire House. Magnificent Spectacle. Description of the Dresses.” London Evening Standard 3 July 1897 Saturday: 3 [of 12], Cols. 1a–5b [of 7]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000183/18970703/015/0004.
  5. "Duchess of Devonshire's Fancy Ball. A Brilliant Spectacle. Some of the Dresses." London Daily News Saturday 3 July 1897: 5 [of 10], Col. 6a–6, Col. 1b. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000051/18970703/024/0005 and https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000051/18970703/024/0006.
  6. "The Duchess of Devonshire's Fancy Dress Ball. Special Telegram." Belfast News-Letter Saturday 03 July 1897: 5 [of 8], Col. 9c [of 9]–6, Col. 1a. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000038/18970703/015/0005.
  7. “The Duchess’s Costume Ball.” Westminster Gazette 03 July 1897 Saturday: 5 [of 8], Cols. 1a–3b [of 3]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002947/18970703/035/0005.
  8. “The Duchess of Devonshire’s Ball.” The Gentlewoman 10 July 1897 Saturday: 32–42 [of 76], Cols. 1a–3c [of 3]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003340/18970710/155/0032.
  9. "The Morning’s News." London Daily News 18 September 1897, Saturday: 5 [of 8], Col. 2b. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000051/18970918/027/0005.
  10. "Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball (1897): photogravures by Walker & Boutall after various photographers." 1899. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait-list.php?set=515.
  11. "Mary Emmeline Laura (née Milner), Lady Gerard as Astarte, Goddess of the Moon." Diamond Jubilee Fancy Dress Ball. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw158450/Mary-Emmeline-Laura-ne-Milner-Lady-Gerard-as-Astarte-Goddess-of-the-Moon.
  12. "Mary Emmeline Laura Milner." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.