Elizabeth Killigrew, Viscountess Shannon

Elizabeth Killigrew (1622–1680) was an English peeress and courtier. One of the many mistresses of Charles II of England[1], she was also the sister of Thomas Killigrew and the wife of Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon. She had a daughter with the king, Charlotte, Countess of Yarmouth.

Life

Baptised on 16 May 1622, she was the daughter of Sir Robert Killigrew and sister of Thomas Killigrew, the dramatist who joined Charles II during his period of exile and later became Master of the Revels. She came to the king's attention through her position as maid-of-honour to Henrietta Maria of France (Charles II's mother), and circa 1650 bore King Charles a daughter, Charlotte Jemima Henrietta Maria FitzRoy (1650–1684).

In 1660, the year of the Restoration of the monarchy, she married Francis Boyle, who was created the 1st Viscount Shannon the same year (1660).

Her daughter was married firstly to James Howard (the grandson of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk), and secondly in 1672 to William Paston, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth.

References

  1. ^ p.239, Monarchs, Murders and Mistresses, David Hilliam, Sutton Publishing, v2000