'Louisa Catherine, Duchess of Leeds, and her family'

Typescript article by Sister Clare Veronica on Louisa Catherine, 7th Duchess of Leeds

Louisa Catherine Caton was born c.1792 the third daughter of Richard Caton and Mary Carroll. She married Wellington's aide Sir Felton Elwell Hervey-Bathurst on 24th April 1817 but the marriage ended in tragedy when he shot himself on 24th September 1819

In April 1828 she married Francis Godolphin Osbourne, the Marquess of Carmarthen, who became the 7th Duke of Leeds in with the death of his father in 1838. When Francis died in May 1859 without issue his titles passed to other members of the family.

She took 7 orphans but this venture quickly failed and they were found new homes. She pursued her idea of establishing an Independent Order at Richmond in North Yorkshire in 1850. She purchased some land and with assistance from her sister Elizabeth, Lady Stafford began building in September 1859. Her interest waned after the death of her husband that year and she retired to St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex where she started a number of further charitable foundations before she died on 8th April 1874.

Access will be granted to any accredited reader

Donated by Sister Clare Veronica, Richmond, September 1987