Venetia James

Mary Venetia James (née Cavendish-Bentinck; 4 June 1861 – 2 May 1948) was a London society hostess and racehorse breeder.

Portrait by Luke Fildes, 1895

Early life

James was born into the Cavendish-Bentinck family, the daughter of Prudentia (née Leslie) and George Cavendish-Bentinck (1821–1891). Her brother was William George Cavendish-Bentinck (1854–1909) and they were related to the Dukes of Portland, with the dukedom eventually passing to her nephews, Ferdinand and Victor; she was also a relative and godmother of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who later became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom.

In 1872, the 11-year-old Mary Venetia Cavendish-Bentinck had been a bridesmaid at the wedding of Christina Nilsson, a famous opera singer of the period. The wedding was a high society affair, arranged by Venetia's father in Westminster Abbey, London. Venetia held the bride's bouquet whilst Nilsson took her vows with her future husband, French banker Auguste Rouzaud.[1][2]

Personal life

In December 1885, she married the racehorse owner and breeder John Arthur James in the Chapel Royal, St James's, London.[3] Venetia and her husband resided at Grafton Street, London, and bred horses at Coton House.

Venetia and Arthur James were both friends of King Edward VII,[4] and Venetia was reputed to be his mistress.[5] The King's private secretary Frederick Ponsonby wrote that she was "full of humour and high spirits, walking with the King and keeping him amused".[6]

Despite being a millionaire, James was noted for her extreme frugality. She served her guests milk that her cat wouldn't drink and preferred to host Catholics on Fridays because fish was cheaper than meat.[7] She was widowed in 1917, and financed the construction of a new department of Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, in the memory of her husband, who had also donated to the hospital.[8] She continued to breed horses and participate in races, winning the Victoria Cup and 1932 Coronation Cup.

James died in 1948, without issue, leaving her jewellery and paintings by Titian, Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough to her goddaughter, Queen Elizabeth (the wife and consort of King George VI, not the current monarch Queen Elizabeth II).[9]

Horse racing

After the death of her husband in 1917, she continued her interests in the Coton House Stud. She was also a successful owner on the track with horses trained by the Hon. George Lampton and George Colling. These included Salmon Leap, Herbalist and Phalaros with wins in the Goodwood Cup, Coronation Cup, Portland Handicap and Victoria Cup.[10]

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References
  1. "Marriage of Mademoiselle Nilsson". Birmingham Daily, Post Page 4. 29 July 1872.
  2. "Marriage of Mademoiselle Christine Nilsson and M Rouzaud in Westminster Abbey". www.cnsallskapet.se. Engraving, 19th-century English School. Retrieved 29 September 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. "A Friend of the King". Liverpool Echo. 2 May 1917. p. 3.
  4. "House party at Coton House". Windows on Warwickshire. Warwickshire County Council. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  5. Brummer, Alex; Cowe, Roger (1998). Weinstock: The Life and Times of Britain's Premier Industrialist. Harper Collins Business. p. 33. ISBN 0002556766.
  6. Middlemas, Keith (1972). The Life and Times of Edward VII. London: Book Club Associates. p. 197.
  7. Summerskill, Ben (15 September 2004). "Tax cuts for the well off? That's a bit rich". The Guardian.
  8. Rugby From Old Photographs. Amberley Publishing Limited. 2013. p. 33. ISBN 1445630583.
  9. "Friend Left Jewels to Queen". Dundee Courier. 30 June 1948. p. 2.
  10. Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Flat Racing. London: Macdonald and Jane's. p. 300.
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