Mary Palmer (born 1750)

Mary Palmer (1750 – 6 September 1820) was a member of the British gentry and by marriage of the Irish peerage.

Mary, Countess of Inchiquin (1750–1820), by Thomas Lawrence
Mary O'Brien (née Palmer), Countess of Inchiquin, by Thomas Phillips after original by her uncle Sir Joshua Reynolds, Petworth House, Sussex.
Mary O'Brien (née Palmer), Countess of Inchiquin, painted before 1785 by her uncle Sir Joshua Reynolds. Collection of Fairfax House, City of York

Life edit

She was the eldest daughter of John Palmer (1708–1770) of Palmer House, Great Torrington, Devon, by his wife Mary Reynolds (1716–1794). John's wife Mary was an elder sister of the painter Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792).

On 21 July 1792 she became the second wife of Murrough O'Brien, Earl of Inchiquin, who had been widowed in 1790. She was painted at least three times by her uncle Joshua and as the chief beneficiary of his will she was able to pay off her husband's debts, though they had no children.[1][2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Mary (née Palmer), Marchioness of Thomond - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk.
  2. ^ "Leicester Square, West Side: Leicester Estate, Nos 43-54 Leicester Square Pages 507-514 Survey of London: Volumes 33 and 34, St Anne Soho". British History Online. LCC 1966. Retrieved 28 December 2022.