Mercedes Grey-Huntington, Countess of Portsmouth

Mercedes Adalia Grey-Huntington, Countess of Portsmouth (neé Grey; 4 June 1722 - present) is the widow of Nathaniel Huntington, 1st Earl of Portsmouth, who was Secretary of State for the Northern Department in the First Newcastle Ministry, and sister of Joseph Grey, 1st Earl Grey who served as Secretary of State for the Southern Department alongside her late husband. 
==Early Life==
Mercedes Adalia Grey-Huntington was born on June 4th, 1728 in the cottage belonging to her mother, Faye Van Landingham. Just hours after Mercedes was born, Miss Van Landingham passed away. Overtaken with grief, and knowing he couldn't care for Mercedes at such a young age, her father wrapped the infant, and left her at an orphanage before returning to His Majesty's Marine Corps. In 1739, the orphanage was attacked, then burned down by illegal slave traders. Many children and caretakers at the orphanage were brutally slaughtered in the attack. The survivors were taken into captivity, held for two years; being prepared to be sold on the black market. As they prepared to pack the children to be sold, the Navy raided the slave house. Favoring death over being apprehended by the Navy, traffickers slit their victim's throats, before doing likewise to themselves. While performing a body count, the Navy found Mercedes alive, under the corpse of a grown slave that had guarded her until death. The Grey family, hearing of the massacre, raid, and rescue, selflessly adopted Mercedes as soon as she was fit to leave the Royal London Hospital. 
==Personal Life==
Mercedes has a healthy relationship with all of her adoptive family members. She is particularly close with her brother, Joseph, and sister Aura. Having not felt much love and affection in her past, she holds a respect and admiration for her family like no other, constantly striving to make them proud.
In 1749, she married Nathaniel Huntington I. They continued to have a stable relationship until Nathaniel's untimely death in 1752. Mercedes married Christopher J. Gunhound, and together had three children; daughter Perenelle Gunhound, Peregrine M. Seaspark Gunhound and George Stormcloud-Gunhound to whom both are adopted. 
Category:Grey family