Emily Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne

De Flahaut family arms

Emily Jane Mercer Elphinstone Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne and 8th Lady Nairne (16 May 1819 26 June 1895) was a British peeress.

Born in Edinburgh, Emily Jane de Flahaut was the eldest daughter of the French Army general and statesman, Count Charles de Flahaut by his wife, Countess Margaret, Baroness Keith (in her own right).

On 1 November 1843, she married Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Earl of Shelburne (becoming styled Countess of Shelburne); they had three children:

In 1863, her husband inherited his father's marquessate, thus becoming Marchioness of Lansdowne. Although she was unable to inherit her mother's title "Baroness Keith" as remainder was restricted to male heirs of her mother (of which there were none), she was, however, recognised by the House of Lords as the 8th Lady Nairne in 1874, her mother having inherited the title from the latter's cousin in 1837 (although Margaret, Baroness Keith did not attempt to claim the this title during her lifetime).[1]

On her death at Meiklour House in 1895, her family title of Nairne devolved upon her eldest son.[2]

In 1834, when she was aged only 15, Frédéric Chopin published his Bolero, Op. 19, with a dedication to her.

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Notes

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
Margaret Keith
(not recognised)
Lady Nairne
18671895
(recognised in 1874)
Succeeded by
Henry Petty-FitzMaurice