Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland
Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland (née FitzClarence; 21 March 1807 – 2 July 1858), was a British noblewoman. She was born the fifth illegitimate daughter of William IV of the United Kingdom (then Duke of Clarence and St Andrews) by his long-time mistress Dorothea Jordan. Amelia had four sisters and five brothers, all surnamed FitzClarence.
Also recorded as Amelia FitzClarence
Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland
Folger Shakespeare Library Digital Image Collection · Public domain
- Name
- The Viscountess Falkland
- Birth Name
- Amelia FitzClarence
- Born
- 21 March 1807
- Died
- 2 July 1858
- Place of death
- London, England
- Nationality
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Occupation
- painter
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland (née FitzClarence; 21 March 1807 – 2 July 1858), was a British noblewoman. She was born the fifth illegitimate daughter of William IV of the United Kingdom (then Duke of Clarence and St Andrews) by his long-time mistress Dorothea Jordan. Amelia had four sisters and five brothers, all surnamed FitzClarence.
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wikidata · Q4742233 · wikipedia · Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland
In this article
Biography
Biography
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.
Key facts
Key facts
• Honorific Prefix — The Right Honourable • Name — The Viscountess Falkland • More — no • Issue — Lucius Cary, Master of Falkland • Noble Family — FitzClarence • House Type — nobility • Father — William IV • Mother — Dorothea Jordan • Birth Name — Amelia FitzClarence • Born — 21 March 1807 • Died — 2 July 1858 • Place of death — London, England
Family and early life
Family and 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 most successful actress of her day and 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 domestic 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 not enough to cover 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 knowledge 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 following year, he made his eldest son, George, Earl of Munster, and had his issue 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.
Marriage and issue
Marriage and issue
She married Lucius Cary, 10th Viscount Falkland on 27 December 1830 at the Pavilion in Brighton. They had one son, Lucius William Charles Frederick Cary, Master of Falkland (24 November 1831 – 6 August 1871), who married Sarah Christiana Keighly (d. 4 October 1902), but died childless. The couple lived at Rudby Hall, North Yorkshire. Amelia died in London on 2 July 1858.
In popular culture
In popular culture
In 1841 Henry Russell dedicated the song The Pilgrim's Address to the Deity to Lady Falkland.
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the heading Amelia FitzClarence. Her recorded language was English. She was the child of William IV and Dorothea Jordan. She married Lucius Cary, 10th Viscount Falkland. One child is recorded: Lucius Cary, Master of Falkland.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1807
Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland born at London.
1858
Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland died at London.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Amelia Cary and Viscountess Falkland was born at London.
Birthplace
Amelia Cary and Viscountess Falkland died at London.
Deathplace
London.
Birth place
Legacy
• namesake of Falkland Ridge, Nova Scotia, Canada • author of Chow-Chow: Being Selections from a Journal Kept in India, Egypt, and Syria
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q4742233: Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland
General reference · Wikidata
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Paintings
19,183 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Amédée de BeauplanArtist
- Amedeo PreziosiArtist
- Amedeo SimonettiArtist
- Ameli, Duchess of OldenburgArtist
- Amelia CurranArtist
- Amelia HothamArtist
- Amelia PeláezArtist
- Amelia WatsonArtist
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