Social Victorians/People/Howe

Also Known As edit

  • Family name: Curzon-Howe and a separate Curzon family
  • Earl Howe (U.K. peerage, second creation 1821)[1]
    • Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 3rd Earl (4 February 1876[2] – 25 September 1900)[3]
    • Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe (25 September 1900 – 10 January 1929)[4]
  • Viscount Curzon is a courtesy title for the son and presumptive heir of the Earl of Howe.[1]
  • Viscount Curzon
    • Richard George Penn Curzon (4 February 1876 – 25 September 1900)[4]
  • Viscountess Curzon
    • Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill Curzon (4 June 1883 – 25 September 1900)[5]
  • General Curzon (1880–1900)

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies edit

Timeline edit

1858 February 8, Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe and Isabella Maria Katherine Anson married.[6]

1883 June 4, Richard George Penn Curzon and Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill married.[5]

1893 October 16, Florence Davis and Terence John Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, later 2nd Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, married.[7]

1897 July 2, Friday, Lady Howe, her eldest son the Viscount and the Viscountess of Curzon attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House. (Isabella, Countess Howe is #489 on the list of people who attended; Georgiana, Viscountess Curzon is #168; Richard, Viscount Curzon is #197.)

1919 December 11, Richard George Penn Curzon and Florence Davis Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood married.[7]

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

Earl and Countess of Howe edit

 
Isabella Maria Katherine (née Anson), Countess Howe as Lady Howe, A.D. 1796, after Gainsborough. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.
 
Thomas Gainsborough — Mary, Countess of Howe by Thomas Gainsborough, 1764

Isabella, Countess Howe (Lady Howe) was present at the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball. Richard, Earl Howe — who was alive at the time — is not mentioned in any reports. Because the Leicester Chronicle says Countess Howe was accompanied by her son,[8]:p. 11, Col. 4b perhaps that suggests he was not at the ball?

Lafayette's portrait (left) of "Isabella Maria Katherine (née Anson), Countess Howe as Lady Howe, A.D. 1796, after Gainsborough" in costume is photogravure #173 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery.[9] The printing on the portrait says, "Countess Howe as Lady Howe, A.D. 1796, after Gainsborough," with a Long S in Countess.[10]

At the time of the ball, Isabella, Lady Howe was about 65 years old. The 1764 Thomas Gainsborough portrait of Lady Howe in the pink dress (right) is of a 37-year-old Countess Howe. The original of her costume was a portrait made in 1796,[citation?] also by Gainsborough, although the Leicester Chronicle says Reynolds.[8]:p. 11, Col. 4b

Newspaper Descriptions of Lady Howe's Costume edit

  • "Countess Howe was also [like Lady Burghclere, who was dressed as an ancestor] attired as an ancestral Lady Howe, wife of the Admiral Viscount of the name, in lovely Sir Joshua gown of white satin, embroidered in real gold, the whole most artistically carried out."[11]:42, Col. 2a
  • Countess Howe was Lady Howe of the year 1758, in a short-waisted white satin dress, embroidered in real gold, and a lace scarf draped across the front. She wore her hair as seen in portraits by Reynolds, and had superb jewels. She was accompanied by her eldest son, Viscount Curzon, in the dress of Admiral Lord Howe, husband of the Lady Howe of 1758.[8]:p. 11, Col. 4b

Mary, Countess of Howe edit

Mary Hartopp ( – 9 August 1800) and Richard Howe married on 10 March 1758 and rose quickly as he succeeded to Viscount later in 1758 and to Count in 1788,[12] the titles becoming extinct because they had 3 daughters and no sons, although their eldest daughter Sophia how inherited the barony in her own right.[13]

 
Maria Leszczynska Frankreich, Queen of France, by Louis Tocqué, 1740

Georgiana, Viscountess Curzon edit

 
Georgiana, Lady Curzon in costume as Maria Leszczynska. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Lady Curzon — Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill Curzon, Viscountess Curzon — sat at Table 6 in the first supper seating. She was dressed as La Reine Marie Leszuiska in the quadrille of the period of Louis XV and XVI.[14]

Lafayette's portrait (above right) of "Georgiana Elizabeth (née Spencer-Churchill), Countess Howe when Lady Curzon as Maria Leszczynska" in costume is photogravure #161 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery.[9] The printing on the portrait says, "Lady Georgiana Curzon as Maria Leszczynska."[15]

In her portrait for the ball, Georgiana, Viscountess Curzon is wearing the "Howe fringe tiara" as a necklace as well as another tiara in her hair.[16]

Maria Leszczynska Frankreich, Queen of France edit

 
Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe when Viscount Curzon in costume as Admiral Earl Howe. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Richard, Viscount Curzon edit

Viscount Curzon, Richard George Penn Curzon was at Table 10 in the first seating for supper. Lafayette's portrait (left) of "Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe when Viscount Curzon as Admiral Earl Howe" in costume is photogravure #162 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery.[9] The printing on the portrait says, "Viscount Curzon as Admiral Earl Howe."[17]

Newspaper Descriptions of Viscount Curzon's Costume edit

  • "Lord Curzon went as the Admiral in question,"[11]:42, Col. 2a that is, the admiral married to the Lady Howe personated by his mother (above).
  • Dressed "in the dress of Admiral Lord Howe, husband of the Lady Howe of 1758," Viscount Curzon accompanied his mother.[8]:p. 11, Col. 4b

Demographics edit

  • Nationality: British

Family edit

  • Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 3rd Earl Howe (14 February 1822 – 25 September 1900)[18]
  • Isabella Maria Katherine Anson Curzon-Howe (1832 – 29 March 1922)[6]
  1. Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe (28 April 1861 – 10 January 1929)
  2. Lady Evelyn Alice Curzon (10 April 1862 – 4 October 1913)
  3. Lady Edith Cecilia Curzon (10 May 1864 – 20 September 1936)
  4. Hon. Frederick Graham Curzon (5 March 1868 – 4 November 1920)


  • Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe (28 April 1861 – 10 January 1929)[19]
  • Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill Curzon (14 May 1860 – 9 February 1906)[5]
  1. Francis Richard Henry Penn Curzon, 5th Earl Howe (1 May 1884 – 26 July 1964)

Notes and Questions edit

  1. Present at the Duchess of Devonshire's ball (see also Curzon):
    1. Countess Howe (Lady Howe)
    2. Her eldest son the Richard, Viscount Curzon
    3. Georgiana, Viscountess Curzon
  2. These all had their portraits in the Album:
    1. Isabella, Countess Howe
    2. Viscount Curzon, Richard George Penn Curzon
    3. Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill Curzon, Viscountess Curzon

Footnotes edit

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Earl Howe". Wikipedia. 2021-09-29. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Earl_Howe&oldid=1047125425.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Howe.
  2. "George Curzon-Howe, 2nd Earl Howe". Wikipedia. 2021-09-12. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Curzon-Howe,_2nd_Earl_Howe&oldid=1043796685.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Curzon-Howe,_2nd_Earl_Howe.
  3. "Richard Curzon-Howe, 3rd Earl Howe". Wikipedia. 2020-06-05. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Curzon-Howe,_3rd_Earl_Howe&oldid=960971693.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Curzon-Howe,_3rd_Earl_Howe.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe". Wikipedia. 2021-12-01. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Curzon,_4th_Earl_Howe&oldid=1058180170.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Curzon,_4th_Earl_Howe.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21. https://www.thepeerage.com/p10633.htm#i106324.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Isabella Maria Katherine Anson." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21. https://www.thepeerage.com/p1327.htm#i13266.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Florence Davis." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21. https://www.thepeerage.com/p1068.htm#i10671.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "The Duchess of Devonshire’s Historic Ball. Some of the Fancy Costumes." Supplement. The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury 10 July 1897, Saturday: 11 [of 12], Cols. 4a–b. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000173/18970710/141/0011.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 "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.
  10. "Countess Howe as Lady Howe." Diamond Jubilee Fancy Dress Ball. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw158536/Isabella-Maria-Katherine-ne-Anson-Countess-Howe-as-Lady-Howe-AD-1796-after-Gainsborough.
  11. 11.0 11.1 “Girls’ Gossip.” Truth 8 July 1897, Thursday: 41 [of 70], Col. 1b – 42, Col. 2c. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002961/18970708/089/0041.
  12. "Mary Hartopp." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2023-12-15. https://www.thepeerage.com/p3471.htm#i34710.
  13. "Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe". Wikipedia. 2023-08-28. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Howe,_1st_Earl_Howe&oldid=1172653926.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Howe,_1st_Earl_Howe.
  14. "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.
  15. "Georgiana Curzon as Maria Leszczynska." Diamond Jubilee Fancy Dress Ball. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw158524/Georgiana-Elizabeth-ne-Spencer-Churchill-Countess-Howe-when-Lady-Curzon-as-Maria-Leszczynska.
  16. Kay, Ella [pseud. of Lauren Kiehna]. "The Howe Diamond Fringe Tiara." The Court Jeweller. 16 June 2018 (accessed 6 December 2021) https://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2018/06/the-howe-diamond-fringe-tiara.html.
  17. "Viscount Curzon as Admiral Earl Howe." Diamond Jubilee Fancy Dress Ball. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw158525/Richard-George-Penn-Curzon-4th-Earl-Howe-when-Viscount-Curzon-as-Admiral-Earl-Howe.
  18. "General Richard William Penn Curzon-Howe, 3rd Earl Howe." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2021-12-06. https://www.thepeerage.com/p1327.htm#i13267.
  19. "Richard George Penn Curzon, 4th Earl Howe." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21. https://www.thepeerage.com/p10633.htm#i106325.
  20. "Lorna Katherine Curzon." "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21. https://www.thepeerage.com/p4998.htm#i49979.