St Jules, Caroline |
| NOBLEMAN (ENGLAND) |
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BORN 16 Aug 1785, Napoli, Campania (near) - DIED 31 Jul 1862, Richmond, Greater London BIRTH NAME St Jules, Caroline Adelaide Rosalie GRAVE LOCATION Petersham, Greater London: St Peter's Church, Church Lane (churchyard) |
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Caroline St Jules was the illegitimate daughter of the William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire (1748-1811) and Elizabeth Forster (1758-1824). She was discreetly born near Naples two months before another Caroline, Caroline Ponsonby, was born in London. Shortly before he died, the Comte de St Jules of Aix-en-Provence allowed Elizabeth Forster to give her daughter his last name. She was supposed to grow up in France, but when her family fled revolutionary France she and her half-sister Charlotte (1774-1856), the first illegitimate child of the duke, were taken to England. The two Carolines grew up together. Caroline Ponsonby married William Lamb in 1805, and Caroline St. Jules married his brother George on 17 May 1809. When she married George Lamb, her father provided her with a dowry of 30,000 pounds. In the same year, her father married her mother, after his first wife had died in 1806. After her marriage Caroline was known in the family as Caro George and the other Caroline was known as Caro William. The marriage did not result in any children and may have been unconsummated. There were rumours that George avoided to go to bed with her by retiring early. He gave priority to his theatrical and literary activities above his wife. In 1816 she started an affair with Henry Brougham (1778-1868). After Caro William published her novel "Glenarvon" in 1816, Caro George turned against her. She also set Lady Byron up against Caro William. However, she and Caro William were on speaking terms at the time the latter died in 1827. After her affair with Brougham ended, she was reconciled with her husband. They stayed together until his death in 1834. Caroline did not remarry. She owned a villa in Petersham near Richmond and she lived until 1862. After her death she was buried at the Churchyard of St. Peters's Church in Petersham. Related persons • had a love affair with Brougham, Henry, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux • detested Byron, George Noel Gordon • detested Hobhouse, John Cam, 1st Baron Broughton • has a connection with Lamb, Caroline • was a friend of Milbanke, Anna Isabella |
| Images | |
 The grave of Caroline St. Jules at St Peter's Churchyard, Petersham. Picture by Androom (11 Aug 2025) |
 The grave of Caroline St. Jules at St Peter's Churchyard, Petersham. Picture by Androom (11 Aug 2025) |
