Maud Evelyn Petty-FitzMaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maud_Petty-Fitzmaurice,_Marchioness_of...

Maud Evelyn Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne, GBE, GCStJ, CH, VA, CI (née Hamilton; 17 December 1850 – 21 October 1932), was a British courtier. She served as vice-regal spouse while her husband Henry Charles Keith Petty-FitzMaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne was Governor General of Canada from 1883–1888. She was then Vicereine of India from 1888–1894 while her husband was Viceroy.

Lady Lansdowne was a daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn and Lady Louisa Jane Russell. On 8 November 1869, she married the 5th Marquess of Lansdowne at Westminster Abbey and they had four children:

Lady Evelyn Emily Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice (27 August 1870 – 2 April 1960) Henry William Edmund Petty-Fitzmaurice, Earl of Kerry (14 January 1872 – 5 March 1936) Lord Charles George Francis Petty-Fitzmaurice (12 February 1874 – 30 October 1914) Lady Beatrix Frances Petty-Fitzmaurice (25 March 1877 – 5 August 1953)

From 1905–09 she was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Alexandra; she was Extra Lady from 1910–25. During the First World War she set up the Officers' Families Fund and served as its president, and she and her husband gave their house, Lansdowne House in Berkeley Square, London, as its headquarters. She also set up an auxiliary Red Cross hospital in the Orangery at Bowood House. [1]

For this and other charitable services, she was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours

From 8 November 1869, her married name became Petty-FitzMaurice. She succeeded to the title of Marchioness of Lansdowne on 8 November 1869. She held the office of Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Alexandria between 1905 and 1909.1 She held the office of Extra Lady of the Bedchamber between 1910 and 1925.1 She was invested as a Companion of Honour (C.H.).1 She was invested as a Dame of Grace, Order of St. John of Jerusalem (D.G.St.J.).1 She was decorated with the award of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India (C.I.).1 She was invested as a Dame Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.) in 1920.2 She was invested as a Lady, Royal Order of Victoria and Albert (V.A.)