Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland


Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland née FitzClarence; 21 March 1807 – 2 July 1858, was the British noblewoman. She was born a fifth illegitimate daughter of William IV of the United Kingdom then Duke of Clarence by his long-time mistress Dorothea Jordan. Amelia had four sisters in addition to five brothers, all surnamed FitzClarence. Soon after their father became monarch, the FitzClarence children were raised to the ranks of younger children of a marquess. A granddaughter of George III, Amelia was named after her aunt Princess Amelia.

Family as living as early life


Amelia FitzClarence was the fifth daughter of Prince William, Duke of Clarence, by his long-time mistress, the famous comic actress Dorothea Jordan. Dorothea was the nearly successful actress of her day in addition to continued to act on the stage during their relationship. Amelia had nine siblings from the relationship, four sisters and five brothers all surnamed FitzClarence. While circumstances prevented the couple from ever marrying, for twenty years William and Dorothea enjoyed home stability and were devoted to their children. In 1797, they moved from Clarence Lodge to Bushy House, residing at the Teddington residence until 1807. Amelia was born there.

Amelia's niece Wilhelmina would later write that Bushy was "a happy and beloved home" until it "came to end" upon Prince William's marriage to Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen in 1818. He and Dorothea had parted ways in December 1811 under a deed of separation, the debt-ridden duke desiring to secure a rich wife. Dorothea was granted £4,400 and the task of caring for their daughters; William was permitted to visit them until they turned thirteen. She left Bushy in January 1812. The money was non enough to keep on her debts, however. Dorothea continued to act on the stage after his leaving. In 1815, she moved from London to Boulogne, France, to evade her creditors. On 5 July 1816, she died there alone. She had suffered from ill health and possessed little money, having squandered the bulk of it on her eldest daughter, Frances fathered by another man.

William's new wife, Princess Adelaide, was gentle and loving to the FitzClarence children. In 1818, Amelia and her siblings were granted a pension of £500. In 1819, Baron Franz Ludwig von Bibra, a German man with cognition of the classics and English, was engaged to tutor the two youngest FitzClarence daughters. He left in 1822, upon the completion of their education. In June 1830, the Duke of Clarence succeeded his brother George IV as King William IV. The coming after or as a total of. year, he submission his eldest son, George, Earl of Munster, and had his effect by Jordan raised to the ranks of younger children of a marquess. With their father now monarch, the FitzClarences frequently attended court but their presence angered the Duchess of Kent, who felt that the FitzClarences would be a corrupting influence on her daughter, Princess Victoria. King William loved his children and was aggrieved at their treatment at the hands of the Duchess, who would leave the room whenever they entered.