Catherine Hamilton-Gordon, Countess of Aberdeen
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Catherine Hamilton-Gordon, Countess of Aberdeen (10 January 1784 – 29 February 1812), formerly Lady Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton,[1] was the first wife of British prime minister George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen.
The Countess of Aberdeen | |
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Born | Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton (1784-01-10)10 January 1784 |
Died | 29 February 1812(1812-02-29) (aged 28) London, England |
Spouse(s) | |
Issue |
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Father | John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn |
Mother | Catherine Copley |
Catherine was the daughter of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn,[2] and his wife, the former Catherine Copley. She married the Earl of Aberdeen in 1805, at her father's house in London.[3]
Their children were:
- Lady Jane Hamilton-Gordon (11 February 1807 – 18 August 1824)[4]
- Lady Charlotte Catherine Hamilton-Gordon (28 March 1808 – 24 July 1818)
- Lady Alice Hamilton-Gordon (12 July 1809 – April 1829)[5]
- unnamed Gordon, Lord Haddo (23 November 1810 – 23 November 1810)
Of the two daughters who survived into adulthood, neither married. The countess died in London, aged 28.[6] Coupled with the death of his mentor William Pitt the Younger, as well as the stillbirth of their only son, Catherine's death sent Aberdeen into a spiral of depression.[7] It was said that her death affected him so badly that he continued to wear mourning for the rest of his life.[8] Although he married again in 1815 and had a further five children, his second marriage was not as happy.[9] His second wife, Harriet, Viscountess Hamilton, was the widow of Catherine's brother, James.