Person    | Female  Born 1734  Died 1808

Lady Diana Beauclerk

Categories: Art, Other

Lady Diana Spencer was born in 1735, the eldest child of the third Duke of Marlborough. She was expected to follow a traditional path through life: educated in the fashion considered suitable for a girl, and married to a man of the appropriate rank for a duke's daughter. However, Lady Di overturned convention. She left her husband, pursued a secret relationship with Topham Beauclerk, hid the birth of an illegitimate child, was divorced, remarried and eventually had to earn her living by painting.

This text came from the same web site as the picture.

Her designs were used by Wedgwood.

The Museum of London holds a 1797 large sculptural frieze, known as the Pelican figures, that used to be high up on the facade of an insurance building in Lombard Street. This was designed by Lady Diana.

There is a book about this lady : Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of Lady Di Beauclerk, Author: Carola Hicks.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Lady Diana Beauclerk

Commemorated ati

The Adelphi

The Adelphi This building stands on the site of Adelphi Terrace built by the...

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Topham & Lady Diana Beauclerk

Here lived Topham Beauclerk. Born 1739. Died 1780. Lady Diana Beauclerk. ...

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Other Subjects

John Edwards

John Edwards

abstract painter and sculptor, and teacher. Born in London and grew up in Hornsey. Head of painting and sculpture at St Martin's School of Art, London, in the 1980s. In the last decade of his life,...

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1 memorial
Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens

Artist and diplomat. Born in Siegen, Westphalia (modern day Germany). He studied art in Antwerp and Venice, and entered the service of Vincenzo Gonzago, Duke of Mantua, where he began a parallel ca...

Person, Art, Politics & Administration, Seriously Famous, Belgium, Germany, Italy

3 memorials
Mervyn Peake

Mervyn Peake

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Person, Art, Emergency Services, Literature, Seriously Famous, Channel Islands, China/Hong Kong

1 memorial
Howard Carter

Howard Carter

Archaeologist and artist. Born at 10 Rich Terrace, Kensington. He first went to Egypt as an artist and drew the painted reliefs of Queen Hatsheput at Thebes. After several years as chief inspector ...

Person, Art, Exploring, History, Egypt

1 memorial
Tamara Froud

Tamara Froud

Mosaic and mural artist.

Person, Art

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Clissold Park and House

Clissold Park and House

Built as Paradise House, or Newington Park House, in the late 1700s for Jonathan Hoare. William Crawshay (1764 – 1834) bought it in 1811. He objected to his daughter's choice of a husband so it was...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture, Property

2 memorials
River Effra

River Effra

At the Brockwell Lido plaque there is an information board which begins by explaining the function of stink pipes: "What is a stink pipe? The lofty green pipe behind you is a Victorian stink pipe, ...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

17 memorials
British Comedy Society / Dead Comics Society

British Comedy Society / Dead Comics Society

Originated in the front room of John Gatenbys' family home in Highgate, during a discussion concerning Peter Seller's nearby childhood home. Out of this the 'Dead Comics Society' was born and their...

Group, Community / Clubs, History, Humour

14 memorials
British Land

British Land

From their website (the picture source): "founded in 1856 by three liberal MPs as a mechanism for expanding the field of voters eligible to elect Members of Parliament".  We don't understand but si...

Group, Property

1 memorial
The Kinks

The Kinks

Rock group formed in Muswell Hill. Their numerous hits include: 'You Really Got Me', 'Waterloo Sunset' and 'Sunny Afternoon'. Founding members were the brothers Ray & Dave Davies and Pete Quaife.

Group, Music / songs, Seriously Famous

2 memorials