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Social Victorians/People/Somerset

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Also Known As edit

  • Family name: Seymour or St. Maur
  • Algernon St. Maur (earlier)
  • Duke of Somerset
    • Edward Adolphus St. Maur, 12th Duke of Somerset (15 August 1855 – 28 December 1885)[1]
    • Archibald Algernon Henry St. Maur, formerly Seymour, 13th Duke of Somerset (28 November 1885 – 12 January 1891)[2]
    • Algernon Percy Banks St. Maur, formerly Seymour, 14th Duke of Somerset (12 January 1891 – 2 October 1894)[3]
    • Algernon St. Maur, later Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset (2 October 1894 – 22 October 1923)
    • Edward Hamilton Seymour, 16th Duke of Somerset (1925[4] – 5 May 1931)
  • Subsidiary titles[5]
    • Baron Seymour, eldest son and heir apparent
    • Earl St. Maur (1863–1885)

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies edit

Timeline edit

1897 July 2, Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Somerset attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House, as did a Miss Seymour.

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

Algernon St. Maur, Duke of Somerset edit

 
Edward Seymour
 
Algernon St Maur, 15th Duke of Somerset in costume as Edward, Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector of England. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Algernon St. Maur, Duke of Somerset (at 27) sat at Table 11 at the first seating for supper. His costume was made by "Messrs. Simmons and Sons, of the Haymarket."[6]:p. 8, Col. 2a

  • "The Duke of Somerset (the Protector Somerset), black velvet surcoat and slashed trunks, with jet; large black velvet mantle with black velvet cap, looped with diamonds, and plume of feathers."[7]:p. 34, Col. 1b
  • The Duke of Somerset was dressed as "Somerset the Protector. Black velvet surcoat and lashed trunks elegantly trimmed with jet, large velvet mantle trimmed to match, black velvet cap looped with diamonds and plume, and the Order of the Garter, sword and steel dagger."[6]:p. 7, Col. 7a
  • "The Duke of Somerset had selected as his character Somerset the Protector, appearing in black velvet surcoat and slashed trunks, trimmed with jet, a large velvet mantle trimmed to match, black velvet cap, looped with diamonds, and plume, and the Order of the Garter, sword, and steel dagger."[8]:p. 3, Col. 4b
  • He "personated the great Protector of that name."[9]:p. 6, Col. 1b [10]:p. 6, Col. 1b
  • "[T]he Duke of Somerset [was dressed] as the Protector Somerset."[11]

Byrne & Co.'s portrait of "Algernon St Maur, 15th Duke of Somerset as Edward, Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector of England" in costume is photogravure #262 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery.[12] The printing on the portrait says, "The Duke of Somerset as 'Edwarde, Duke of Somerset, Lorde Protector of England."[13]

The portrait (left) of Edward Seymour was painted sometime in the 16th century and is in the collection of the Marquess of Bath.[14] He is wearing the necklace of the Order of the Garter, as is Algernon St. Maur, though the pendants are not identical.

Susan St. Maur, Duchess of Somerset edit

 
Susan, Duchess of Somerset in costume as Jane, Queen of England. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.
 
Jane Seymour, detail from larger portrait of family group with Henry VIII

Susan St. Maur, Duchess of Somerset (at 209) sat at Table 12 at the first supper seating.

  • "The Duchess of Somerset as Lady Jane Seymour, after a picture by Holbein, was dressed in gold brocade with a wonderful headdress; superbly jewelled, white gloves and Holbein ornaments embroidered on her gown."[7]:p. 34, Col. 1a
  • "The Duchess of Somerset was Jane Seymour, after a picture by Holbein."[15]

Sir Edward John Poynter's portrait of "Susan Margaret (née MacKinnon), Duchess of Somerset as Jane, Queen of England, wife to King Henry VIII and mother to King Edward VI" in costume is photogravure #261 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery.[12] The printing on the portrait says, "The Duchess of Somerset as 'Jane Queene of Englande wyfe to Kynge Henry the Eight and mother to Kinge Edward the Sixt," with a Long S in Duchess."[16]

The portrait of Jane Seymour (right) is a detail from a larger portrait of a family group with Henry VIII on his throne in the center. Formerly attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger, it was painted around 1545 and is now in the collection at Hampton Court Palace, having been part of the royal collections probably from the beginning.[17] Several portraits of Jane Seymour show her wearing a similar headdress, although the headdress in the portrait of Susan, Duchess of Somerset seems to incorporate a crown as well as the usual "gable."

Miss Seymour edit

Miss Seymour (at 406) may have been one of the archduchesses waiting on Marie Thérèse, at least according to the Belfast News-Letter, which often reprinted articles originally printed in the London Daily News. In this case, only one newspaper lists her name at all. If so, she was in the entourage of the Marchioness of Londonderry, who led the Austrian procession as Marie Thérèse, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. The other archduchesses are discussed here and the costume worn by them here.

Algernon Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset did not have children, and neither did any of his brothers, so this Miss Seymour, whoever she is, cannot have been in his immediate family.

Demographics edit

  • Nationality: British

Family edit

  • Algernon Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset (22 July 1846 – 22 October 1923)[19]
  • Susan Margaret Richards Mackinnon, Duchess of Somerset (11 January 1853 – 30 January 1936)[20]

Relations edit

  • Raglan Somerset

Notes and Questions edit

  1. The Morning Post and the Times say Miss Stirling was part of the Marie-Thérèse procession as Countess Kinskey.[11] [6]:7, Col. 6b The Guernsey Star says she was one of the archduchesses attending the Marchioness of Londonderry,[15] and the Belfast News-Letter says Miss Seymour was among the archduchesses instead.[10]:6, Col. 1b Except for the Guernsey Star and the Belfast News-Letter, the reports agree that there were 4 rather than 5 archduchesses.
  2. Whether the surname was Seymour or St. Maur depends on which branch of the same family and when; the different branches run simultaneously, of course, and the dukedom moved among the branches, sometimes laterally, sometimes going back generations to pick up the line.[5]
  3. Lady Seymour and Miss Seymour attended social events together at this time.

Footnotes edit

  1. ↑ "Edward Adolphus St. Maur, 12th Duke of Somerset." "Person Page". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  2. ↑ "Archibald Henry Algernon St. Maur, 13th Duke of Somerset." "Person Page". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  3. ↑ "Algernon Percy Banks St. Maur, 14th Duke of Somerset." "Person Page". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  4. ↑ "Edward Seymour, 16th Duke of Somerset". Wikipedia. 2021-07-01. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edward_Seymour,_16th_Duke_of_Somerset&oldid=1031383347.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Seymour,_16th_Duke_of_Somerset.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Duke of Somerset". Wikipedia. 2021-05-07. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Duke_of_Somerset&oldid=1021862660.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Somerset.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "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.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 “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.
  8. ↑ “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.
  9. ↑ "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 http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000051/18970703/024/0005 and http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000051/18970703/024/0006.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The Duchess of Devonshire's Fancy Dress Ball. Special Telegram." Belfast News-Letter Saturday 03 July 1897: 5 [of 8], Col. 9 [of 9]. British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000038/18970703/015/0005.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Ball at Devonshire House." The Times Saturday 3 July 1897: 12, Cols. 1A–4C The Times Digital Archive. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "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.
  13. ↑ "Duke of Somerset as 'Edwarde, Duke of Somerset.'" Diamond Jubilee Fancy Dress Ball. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw158625/Algernon-St-Maur-15th-Duke-of-Somerset-as-Edward-Duke-of-Somerset-Lord-Protector-of-England.
  14. ↑ Artist, Unknown (1500s), English: Portrait of Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford (cr 1537), (later in 1547 created 1st Duke of Somerset & Lord Protector 1547–49); by unknown artist, Collection of Marquess of Bath, Longleat House, Wiltshire. The Latin inscription either side of his head is: "E(dwardus) SE(mour) C(omes) HER(tfordiensis)" ("Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford"). He wears the chain of the Order of the Garter from which hangs the Great George., retrieved 2022-01-10. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edward_Seymour.jpg.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Duchess of Devonshire's Fancy-Dress Ball. Brilliant Spectacle." The [Guernsey] Star 6 July 1897, Tuesday: 1 [of 4], Col. 1–2. British Newspaper Archive http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000184/18970706/003/0001.
  16. ↑ "Duchess of Somerset as Jane, Queen of England." Diamond Jubilee Fancy Dress Ball. National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw158624/Susan-Margaret-ne-MacKinnon-Duchess-of-Somerset-as-Jane-Queen-of-England-wife-to-King-Henry-VIII-and-mother-to-King-Edward-VI.
  17. ↑ Younger, British School, 16th century. Formerly attributed to Hans Holbein the (c. 1545), English: Posthumous depiction of Jane Seymour from Henry VIII's family painting., retrieved 2022-01-10{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Janeseymourpost.jpg.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ "Algernon St Maur, 15th Duke of Somerset". Wikipedia. 2019-06-01. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Algernon_St_Maur,_15th_Duke_of_Somerset&oldid=899810629.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algernon_St_Maur,_15th_Duke_of_Somerset.
  20. ↑ "Susan Margaret Richards Mackinnon." "Person Page". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
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