Charlotte Kingsley, Dowager Baroness Kingsley

## The Right Honourable   The Dowager Lady  Kingsley

**Charlotte Catherine Kingsley, The Dowager Baroness Kingsley** (b. 1793) known as **Lady Charlotte Kingsley** briefly during 1813 and as **Lady Charlotte Emerton** from 1792 to 1813. She is the second daughter of Henry Emerton, 6th Duke of Suffolk and Colette Emerton, Duchess of Suffolk and the fourth of seven children. She was married to Lieutenant Colonel William Kingsley, 1st Baron Kingsley from 1813 to 1815 until he was killed by Captain Sir Joshua Finch for treason against the British Empire. She has one son, Theodore Kingsley, 2nd Baron Kingsley whom she had with her husband.

## Biography

### Early Life

Born Lady Charlotte Catherine Emerton on September 17th, 1793 to Henry Emerton, Marquess of Sudbury and Colette Emerton, Marchioness of Sudbury. She is the fourth of seven children and the second daughter. She grew up at Suffolk House and Sudbury Manor with her family. She was well educated for a women of her time as she had several governesses and a tutor. She made her social debut to court in 1811 at the age of 17 and was proposed to by the 3rd Duke of Leinster, George Spencer, Earl of Sunderland, grandson of the Duke of Marlborough, the 4th Earl of Egremont and several other men of status, however; she declined all of them and ended up leaving her first social season without a marriage. In her second social season, she only had two proposals, one from George Cholmondeley, Viscount Maplas and one from the 4th Earl of Effingham of which she both declined. Her mother put pressure on her to get married, however; she said she wanted to marry for love, not for status and money.

### Marriage to William Kingsley

In November of 1812, she met Captain William Kingsley, the former batman to her brother, Oliver Emerton. Captain Kingsley informed her and the Emerton Family that Oliver was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights. Kingsley was asked by the James Emerton, the then Duke to stay on as his aide de camp, which he accepted, and to attend Oliver's funeral, which because of the winter season approaching was not able to occur until winter. Grief stricken, she found comfort in Captain Kingsley, who in January of 1813 was knighted for his service to the crown. She quickly fell in love with Sir William and he asked for her hand in marriage in February of 1813.

They married in May of 1813 at their local Parish with the Archbishop of Canterbury presiding. For their honeymoon, they went to Ireland, to County Cork. They spent three weeks in Ireland before returning to Suffolk House. Kingsley with his new influx of cash had purchased a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and returned to work at the War Office with his grandfather-in-law the Duke. While working with the Duke, he became close friends with The Honourable Captain Joshua Finch, the son of the Earl of Aylesford, the Duke's Adjutant.

In 1814, with the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Paris, William returned home to Charlotte, she became Pregnant in May of 1814. The same month she became pregnant, her grandfather, James Emerton, 5th Duke of Suffolk was killed in an apparent assassination. While the both the Emerton Family and country mourned, her husband plotted his escape to America unbeknownst to anyone.

In order to disguise his escape, he faked his death with the help of Sir Edmund Wollerton. Charlotte was devastated when she learned of William's "death." Her sadness was described by her eldest sister Lady Elizabeth Carson as "Comparable to a baby fawn losing their mother just weeks after birth, she is lost without her dearest husband."

However, she would discover her husband was in fact, still alive after the British government discovered letters between him and an American spy. He was formally accused of the assassination of the Duke, and the murder of Oliver Emerton by the crown on September 9th, 1814. As a condition of peace between the United Kingdom and the United States, William Kingsley was to be remanded over to British custody. As a precaution, American authorities arrested him on October 2nd, 1814 and he was transported to Washington where he stayed until the arrival of British authorities.

After being informed her husband would be charged and arrested for treason, Charlotte asked Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Finch if she could accompany him to America to see her husband, and to try and understand what had happened. Prior to leaving for America, she gave birth to her son, Theodore Kingsley, on January 3rd 1815. She left for America just a week later and arrived on February 15th. She was able to speak to her husband on February 18th of 1815, according to the account of Sir Joshua Finch, she had some "rather choice words for her husband." Many of the men who had came to arrest Kingsley were shocked by her ability to maintain composure, another account stated "Despite the circumstances, Lady Kingsley had the countenance of a saint."

After the short conversation with her husband, she left the room. Her husband was killed by Lieutenant Colonel Finch just 7 minutes later. As a result of his actions, the Parliament of the United Kingdom debated on stripping Kingsley's son Theodore of his title of Baron Kingsley, however, it was decided that the title would remain.

### Post Marriage

After her husband's death, Charlotte became somewhat notorious in the social circles of the British aristocracy, to escape the scandal that her name and marriage had brought her, she left for India to live with her uncle and aunt, Lord Gerald Emerton and Lady Gerald Emerton at Fort St. George, which her uncle was the Governor of. She left for India on April 9th, 1815 with her son and she did not return until October 18th of 1815.

After returning from India she attended the wedding of her sister Sophie Bratton, Countess of Pemberton and the wedding of her cousin Edward McLaren, 3rd Viscount McLaren.

## Personality

Prior to her marriage, Charlotte was known for her bubbly personality and kind demeanour, she was known to be very polite and intelligent. However, the death of her husband, she became very quiet, and she appeared emotionless and cold. She smiled very rarely and did not attend many social events, instead staying in with her son, Theodore. Despite her emotionless exterior she was still very kind and respectful to others. She never raised her voice and always maintained a calm composure, even when she was upset or angry. Charlotte is a very caring mother, she is very hands on and enjoys spending time with her son, something that is rather unusual for members of the aristocracy.

She is close with all her siblings and her parents. She also frequently communicates with her husband's family, whom she believes to be victims of his selfishness, similar to her.

She is considered to be very fashionable and she enjoys the colour orange.

## Appearance

Charlotte is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful women of her age alongside her sisters, whom are all also considered to be very beautiful. She has blonde hair, green eyes and a pale complexion. She is noted for her elegant style and since debuting, she has been a topic of curiosity amongst both the aristocracy and working class due to her natural beauty.