Duchess of Manchester, Maria Consuelo Iznaga Clement. (Cuban Descendant) ** Maria Consuelo Iznaga Clement, Duchess of Manchester.
María Consuelo Montagu, Duchess of Manchester (1858 – 20 November 1909), née Doña María Consuelo Iznaga y Clement, was a Cuban American woman who married Viscount Mandeville and later became the Duchess of Manchester.
She was born in 1858 in New York City, NY, and was the second of four children of diplomat Antonio Iznaga y del Valle and Ellen Maria Clement y Little. Her father hailed from an old and wealthy Cuban family who owned sugar mills in Trinidad, Cuba, and they had also connections to several Spanish aristocratic houses. Her mother grew up at Ravenswood Plantation in Louisiana.
Marriage.
On 22 May 1876 in Grace Church, New York, Consuelo married George Montagu, Viscount Mandeville. After that they settled on the Duke of Manchester’s estate in Ireland. The couple had three children:
William Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester (1877–1947)
Lady Jacqueline Mary Alva Montagu (b. 27 November 1879 † 15 March 1895)
Lady Alice Eleanor Louise Montagu (b. 27 November 1879 † 10 January 1900)
Life.
In her teenage years Consuelo became known on New York’s social scene as one of the group called the Buccaneers.
During her marriage Lady Mandeville engaged herself in charitable organisations. Poverty was a case that concerned her, and she was also interested in education and health.
The Duchess of Manchester was a renowned beauty. The same were her sisters, Emilie Iznaga y Clement and Natividad (Natica) Iznaga y Clement. The latter was the wife of Sir John Pepys Lister-Kaye, 3rd Baronet. The Duchess was a celebrated society figure, belonging to the intimate circle of Edward VII of the United Kingdom, formerly the Prince of Wales.
Legacy.
On her death in 1909, the Duchess bequeathed a bracelet to her friend Queen Alexandra.
The Manchester tiara, created for the Duchess by Cartier in 1903, is now in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Titles and styles.
Styles of Consuelo Montagu,
Duchess of Manchester
Reference style Her Grace
Spoken style
Your Grace.
Alternative style
1859 – 1876: Doña María “Consuelo” Iznaga y Clement
1876 – 1890: Viscountess Mandeville
1890 – 1892: Her Grace The Duchess of Manchester
1892 – 1909: Her Grace’ The Dowager Duchess of Manchester
Agencies/Various/Wiki/InternetPhotos/www.thecubanhistory.com
The Cuban History, Hollywood.
Arnoldo Varona, Editor.