Mary Boyle, Countess of Cork and Orrery

Born Mary Monckton, probably at Serlby Hall, Nottinghamshire, the family seat, she was a daughter of John Monckton, 1st Viscount Galway by his second wife, Jane Westenra of Rathleagh, Queen's County, Ireland.[1] Boswell places Mary Monckton among the bluestocking clubs,[2] and writes:

Johnson was prevailed with to come sometimes into these circles, and did not think himself too grave even for the lively Miss Monckton (now Countess of Corke), who used to have the finest bit of blue at the house of her mother, Lady Galway. Her vivacity enchanted the Sage, and they used to talk together with all imaginable ease.[3]

The playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan was a close friend and regular visitor: in the 1780 general election he stood jointly in the Whig interest with Mary's brother Edward and was elected 2nd Member for Stafford. In 1786, she became the second wife of Edmund Boyle, 7th Earl of Cork and 7th Earl of Orrery. Politically, there was never any doubt of her sympathies: although brother Edward wavered, Mary still signed herself "a True Whig" into old age.[4]

Several of the historical novels of Georgette Heyer refer to the fame of her literary parties, and the crucial role which wit and good conversation played there: a character remarks that the highest praise a hostess can dream of is to be called "a second Lady Cork".

She died in London on 30 May 1840.[2] She was ninety-four. She was buried in Brewood parish church, Staffordshire, close to the estates of her brother, Edward Monckton.[5]

Memorial to Jane Westenra, Brewood parish church, Staffordshire.

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Elizabeth (1894). "Monckton, Mary". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 38. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cork and Orrery, Mary, Countess of". Encyclopædia Britannica. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 160.