Regency Personalities Series
In my attempts to provide us with the details of the Regency, today I continue with one of the many period notables.
Sarah Lyttelton Baroness Lyttelton
29 July 1787 – 13 April 1870
Sarah Lyttelton
Sarah Lyttelton Baroness Lyttelton was born Lady Sarah Spencer at the Spencer seat of Althorp in Northamptonshire on 29 July 1787, and was the eldest daughter of the Whig politician Sir George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer and Lady Lavinia Bingham.
Sarah Spencer married Sir William Henry Lyttelton, 3rd Baron Lyttelton, on 4 March 1813. They had five children:
- Caroline
- Lavinia
- George
- Spencer
- William
On 25 July 1839 her eldest son George (by then 4th Baron) married Mary, the daughter of Sir Stephen Richard Glynne, 8th Baronet. The marriage took place at Hawarden, the seat of William Ewart Gladstone who was simultaneously marrying Mary’s sister Catherine. George became a distinguished classical scholar like his father, but committed suicide in 1876 by throwing himself down the stairs. Sarah’s daughter, Lavinia, was later to marry Reverend Henry Glynne, brother of Catherine and Mary Glynne.
Sarah Lyttelton was widowed in 1837, and shortly afterwards was offered the post of lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria. She is said to have commented to a friend at this time that “the character of an advisor, a woman of influence, a probable preserver or improver of the national morals is exactly the very last I could fill decently”. Over time, Lyttelton earned the respect of the Queen and the Prince Consort and, in April 1843, she was appointed governess to the royal children, who continued to called her “Laddle”, even once they were grown. She was also made a Lady of the Bedchamber by Queen Victoria.
Sarah Lyttelton died at Hagley on 13 April 1870 at the age of 82.
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