Social Victorians/People/Ripon

Also Known As

• Family name: Robinson
• Marquess of Ripon
  • George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon (23 June 1871 – 9 July 1909)
  • Frederick Oliver Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon ( 9 July 1909 – 22 September 1923)
• Marchioness of Ripon
  • Henrietta Anne Theodosia Vyner Robinson (28 January 1859 – )
  • Constance Gwladys Herbert Robinson (9 May 1909 – )
• Earl of Ripon
  • George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 2nd Earl of Ripon (28 January 1859 – 9 July 1909)
• Countess of Ripon
  • Henrietta Anne Theodosia Vyner Robinson (28 January 1859 –)
  • Constance Gwladys Herbert Robinson ()
• Earl de Grey
  • George Frederick Samuel Robinson, Earl de Grey (23 June 1871 – 9 July 1909)
  • Frederick Oliver Robinson, Earl de Grey (1871–1909)
• Countess of de Grey
  • Constance Gwladys Herbert Robinson (2 May 1885 – 1909)
• Earl de Grey and Ripon
  • George Frederick Samuel Robinson (28 January 1859 – 1871)
• Viscount Goderich
  • George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 2nd Viscount Goderich (28 January 1859 –1859)
  • Frederick Oliver Robinson, 3rd Viscount Goderich (1859 and 1871)

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies

Friends

Gwladys Robinson

• Oscar Wilde (dedicated A Woman of No Importance to Gwladys Robinson, Lady de Grey)
• Nellie Melba
• Nijinsky
• Diaghilev

Frederick Oliver Robinson

• Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, long-time friend

Timeline

1885 May 7, Constance Gwladys Herbert Lowther and Frederick Oliver Robinson married.

1897 June 28, Monday, according to the Morning Post, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ripon were invited to the 28 June Queen's Garden Party, the official end of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London.

1897 July 2, Friday, Constance Gwladys, Lady de Grey Constance Gwladys Herbert Robinson attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House, attended by an Ethiopian or Nubian. Frederick Oliver Robinson, Earl de Grey also attended. (Gwladys Robinson, Countess de Grey is #136 on the list of people who were present; Frederick, Earl de Grey is #656.)

1900 June 3, Sunday, Whit Sunday, Lord and Lady de Grey were present at a Whitsun house party at Sandringham House.

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

Gwladys Robinson, Countess de Grey in costume as Cleopatra. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Gwladys Robinson, Countess de Grey

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, accompanied by a real Ethiopian or Nubian attendant, Gwladys Robinson, Countess de Grey was Cleopatra (or less likely Lysistrate). She walked in the Duchess group in the "Oriental" Procession and sat at Table 2. She had "a great diamond bird in her hair and a golden bird in her hand" and was dressed as Cleopatra, Lysistrate or Zenobia, perhaps:

• Lady de Grey was "Cleopatra, [with] a real Ethiopian attendant."
• "The Orientals were the first to pass [before the Prince of Wales], headed by Lady de Grey. Her train was borne by a Nubian in gorgeous and correct dress."
• "There were also two Cleopatras — Lady de Grey was one mass of beautiful embroideries ...."
• "The manteau was of crepon de chine, covered with embroidered gauze and applique of coloured satin, and studded with jewels; a ceinture and pendent were of white satin, with cerise applique and embroidery, and she wore a jewelled headdress, she was Lysistrate."
• The Derbyshire Times, on 12 June 1897, says that Lady de Grey was "going as Zenobia, and is getting her dress from Doucet; since the Duchess of Devonshire was dressed as Zenobia, perhaps Lady de Grey decided against that, if she could have known?
• The Carlisle Patriot provides more detail than any other paper (perhaps because the de Greys were local?): "The Orientals were headed by Lady de Grey in magnificent attire, rich with gems and gold and silver, a great diamond bird in her hair and a golden bird in her hand. Her train was borne by a Nubian in gorgeous and correct dress."

W. & D. Downey's portrait of "Gwladys Robinson, Marchioness of Ripon when Countess de Grey as Cleopatra" in costume is photogravure #281 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Countess de Grey as Cleopatra," with a Long S in Countess.

Frederick Robinson, Earl de Grey in costume as Admiral Coligny. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Frederick Oliver Robinson, Earl de Grey

Frederick Oliver Robinson, Earl de Grey was dressed as Coligny. Admiral Coligny was Gaspard II de Coligny (1519–1572), a Huguenot and advisor to King Charles IX of France.

Walery's portrait of "Frederick Oliver Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon when Earl de Grey as Admiral Coligny" in costume is photogravure #213 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Earl de Grey as Admiral Coligny."

Newspaper Descriptions of His Costume

• "Earl de Grey, as Coligny, was in black and citron."
• He was wearing a "doublet, black satin, slashed on the breast with long slashes of yellow satin and puffed with lemon yellow satin; cloak of black satin lined lemon yellow, satin sleeves same as doublet; trunks, black satin, slashed and puffed same as doublet."

Demographics

• Nationality: George Frederick Samuel Robinson, British

Family

• George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon (24 October 1827 – 9 July 1909)
• Henrietta Anne Theodosia Vyner Robinson (17 April 1833 – 28 February 1907)

1. Frederick Oliver Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon (29 January 1852 – 22 September 1923)
2. Mary Sarah Robinson (16 July 1857 – 3 July 1858)

• Constance Gwladys Herbert Robinson (22 April 1859 – 28 October 1917)
• St George Henry Lowther, 4th Earl of Lonsdale (4 October 1855 – 8 February 1882)

1. Lady (Gladys Mary) Juliet Lowther (9 April 1881 – 23 September 1965)

• Frederick Oliver Robinson (29 January 1852 – 23 September 1923) was Earl de Grey –1909
• Edith (servant; relationship with Frederick Robinson and paternity of her children theorized)

1. Freda
2. Frederick

Relations

• Frederick Oliver Robinson married the widowed Constance Gwladys Herbert Lowther, and Edith, a servant at the estate, claimed that Robinson was the father of her children.

Questions and Notes

1. Oscar Wilde dedicated A Woman of No Importance to Gwladys Robinson, Lady de Grey.