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Article: The Death of the Countess of Blessington.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- History Today
- Article date:
- June 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 History Today Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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June 4th, 1849
Marguerite Blessington, famous beauty and society lady, was born on December 1st, 1789, at Knockbrit, near Clonmel in County Tipperary. Her father, Edmund Power, was an Irish squire, dissolute and harsh towards his seven children. The brainy Marguerite alone was plain in a good-looking family. When she became remarkably handsome at the age of fourteen, her father was attracted by the wealth and position of Captain Maurice Farmer of the 47th Regiment, then stationed at Clonmel.
He compelled her to marry the Captain in 1804, though he was old enough to be her father. She wept during the wedding service. Her husband had a bad temper and an ...