![](https://assets.cambridge.org/97811080/21067/cover/9781108021067.jpg)
LA BELLE HAMILTON
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 September 2011
Summary
Born, a.d. 1641. Died, a.d. 1700
THE grave Evelyn, in his Memoirs, describes the celebrated Mrs. Middleton, as a “famous, and, indeed, incomparable beauty;” and in the licentious and brilliant Court of Charles II., where lovely women were the rule and not the exception, she captivated the fascinating Count de Grammont. She was very poor, but anxious, according to one of her biographers, “to appear magnificently, and ambitious to vie with those of the greatest fortunes, though unable to support the expense.”
De Grammont knew of her impecunious condition, and tried to win her regard by the most costly presents. But Mrs. Middleton, although she graciously accepted the gifts, did not seem to encourage the giver. Naturally enough, he became piqued, and was beginning to transfer his affections from the rather affected Mrs. Middleton to Miss Warmestre, a lively girl, quite a contrast to his latest love, when, at this juncture, a new face appeared upon the scene, and inspired him with the only honourable attachment he had ever felt.
The daughter of Sir George Hamilton, fourth son of James, Earl of Abercorn, and of Mary, granddaughter of Walter, eleventh Earl of Ormond, Elizabeth Hamilton, was just in her twentieth year when she first appeared at the Court of Charles II., and fascinated the Count de Grammont as much by her goodness and intellectual qualities as by her personal charms.
Samuel Pepys—who ought to be canonised under the name of “Saint Gossip”—leaves it upon record that at this period there were three distinct Courts held in London.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Illustrious IrishwomenBeing Memoirs of Some of the Most Noted Irishwomen from the Earliest Ages to the Present Century, pp. 110 - 118Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1877