Roberte Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough

Roberte Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough (née Poupart de Neuflize) GCStJ JP (1892–1979), was a French noblewoman who married into the English aristocracy and served as Viceregal Consort of Canada in the 1930s.

The Right Honourable The Countess of Bessborough GCStJ JP
The Earl and Countess of Bessborough, 1933
Viceregal Consort of Canada
In office 1931–1935
Preceded by	The Marchioness of Willingdon
Succeeded by	The Baroness Tweedsmuir
Personal details
Born	Roberte Poupart de Neuflize 1892 Paris, France
Died	1979 (aged 86–87) Kensington, London, England
Spouse(s)	Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough ​ ( m. 1912; died 1956)
Children	4, including Frederick and Moyra
Parents	Jean de Neuflize Madeleine Dolfuss-Davilliers
Awards	Legion of Honour

Early life

She was the only daughter of Baron Jean Poupart de Neuflize and Madeleine Dolfuss-Davilliers and grew up in the family home, 7 Rue Alfred-de-Vigny, a Hôtel particulier in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. She had two older brothers, André Poupart de Neuflize (who married the American heiress Eva Barbey),[1][2][3] and Jacques Poupart de Neuflize, a banker who succeeded their father in running the family bank.[4]

Her mother was a granddaughter of French industrialist Jean Dollfus.[5]

Personal life

Viscountess Duncannon with her eldest son, Frederick, c. September 1913

On 25 June 1912, she married Vere Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon (1880–1956), son of Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough, and Blanche Vere Guest; she held the courtesy title of Viscountess Duncannon.[6] Her husband inherited the title of Earl of Bessborough upon the death of his father on 1 December 1920, whereupon Roberte became the Countess of Bessborough. Together, they had three sons (two of whom predeceased their parents) and a daughter:[7]

• Frederick Edward Neuflize Ponsonby, 10th Earl of Bessborough (1913–1993), who married Mary Munn, a daughter of Charles A. Munn Jr. and Mary Astor Paul,[8] in 1948.[7]
• Hon. Desmond Neuflize Ponsonby (1915–1925), who died after a riding accident.[7]
• Lady Moyra Blanche Madeleine Ponsonby (1918–2016), who married, as his second wife, Sir Denis John Wolko Browne, a son of Sylvester J. Browne, in 1945. Sir Denis' first wife, Helen de Guerry Simpson, died from cancer in 1940.[9]
• Lt. Hon. George St Lawrence Neuflize Ponsonby (1931–1951),[10] who died unmarried.[7]

In 1924, they purchased a country house in England, known as Stansted House in Stoughton, West Sussex.[11] On 2 Jun 1937, her husband was created Earl of Bessborough in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (the earlier earldom was created in the Peerage of Ireland).[7]

Lord Bessborough died at Stansted House on 10 March 1956,[12] and Lady Bessborough died in 1978.

Honours

She was invested as a Dame Grand Cross, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (GC.St.J). She was decorated with the Chevalier, Legion of Honour. She held the office of Justice of the Peace for West Sussex between 1943 and 1956.[13]

References

1. TIMES, Wireless to THE NEW YORK (26 April 1938). "Robs Baroness de Neuflize Of $40,000 Gems in Paris". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
2. "MISS BARBEY ENGAGED.; Daughter of the Late Henry Barbey of New York to Wed Gilbert Elliott". The New York Times. 3 August 1910. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
3. "WEDDINGS OF A DAY; De Neuflize--Barbey". The New York Times. 11 February 1903. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
4. "BARON DE NEUFLIZE DIES; French Banker Lectured Here and Wrote 'on' Finance". The New York Times. 17 January 1953. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
5. of), Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de La Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvigny Ruvigny and Raineval (9th marquis (1914). The Titled Nobility of Europe: An International Peerage, Or "Who's Who", of the Sovereigns, Princes and Nobles of Europe. Harrison & Sons. p. 1074. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
6. Times, Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph To the New York (26 June 1912). "WEDS LORD DUNCANNON.; Baron Neuflize's Daughter Married to Lord Bessborough's Heir". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
7. "Bessborough, Earl of (I, 1739)". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
8. "MISS MARY MUNN ENGAGED TO PEER; She Will Be Bride of Viscount Duncannon, Son of Former Canadian Governor General". The New York Times. 11 August 1948. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
9. "Browne, Sir Denis John Wolko (1892–1967)". Royal College of Surgeons of England. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
10. "FOURTH CHILD IS BORN TO LADY BESSBOROUGH; King George Cables Wish to Serve as Godfather to Son of Canadian Governor General". The New York Times. 15 August 1931. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
11. Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Home > History > Former Governors General > British > The Earl of Bessborough 1931–1935". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
12. Times, Special to The New York Times The New York (11 March 1956). "BESSBOROUGH, 75, DEAD IN ENGLAND; Canada's Governor-General in 1931-35 Helped Guide It to More Independence Business Man and Diplomat Board Chairman of Unilever Made Announcement on Bonds". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
13. Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd., 2003), volume 1, page 363.

External Links

• Portraits of Roberte Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough at the National Portrait Gallery, London

Honorary titles
Preceded by The Marchioness of Willingdon	Viceregal Consort of Canada 1931–1935	Succeeded by The Baroness Tweedsmuir