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Signatories to the Ladies' Petition for the Establishment of the Foundling Hospital

(Redirected from Ladies of Quality and Distinction)

In 1730 Thomas Coram approached aristocratic women with a petition to support the establishment of a Foundling Hospital, which he would present to King George II.[1][2]

The women who signed were of aristocratic backgrounds, and Coram kept a list in his pocket memorandum book, captioned 'An Exact Account when each Lady of Charity Signed their Declaration'.[2] In several cases, he had already approached the women's husbands several years earlier, and been turned away. Their involvement is widely regarded as the gateway to wider support of his philanthropic cause. In an essay in the catalogue of an exhibition celebrating women's roles in the Foundling Hospital, Elizabeth Einberg states that:

"Coram could see that securing the approval of a group of right-thinking women, of wives and dowagers at the pinnacle of society would highlight the Christian, virtuous and humanitarian aspects of such an endeavour and make it socially acceptable. In the events, it became not only that, but one of the most fashionable charities of the day."[3]

These female signatories are listed here in chronological order of date of their signature:

Signatories to the Ladies' Petition for the Establishment of the Foundling Hospital
Name Title at the time of Signature Date of Signature Image
Charlotte Seymour Duchess of Somerset 9 March 1729
Ann Vaughan Duchess of Bolton 22 April 1729
Henrietta Needham Dowager Duchess of Bolton 25 April 1729
Sarah Lennox Duchess of Richmond 22 December 1729
Isabella Montagu Duchess of Manchester 6 January 1730
Ann Russell Duchess of Bedford 7 January 1730
Elizabeth Knight Baroness Onslow 6 April 1730
Anne Pierrepoint Dowager Baroness Torrington 14 April 1730
Frances Byron Baroness Byron 14 April 1730
Selina Shirley Countess of Huntingdon 21 April 1730
Juliana Hele Duchess of Leeds 24 April 1730
Frances Finch Countess of Winchilsea and Nottingham 25 April 1730
Frances Hales Countess of Lichfield 27 April 1730
Dorothy Boyle Countess of Burlington 19 May 1730
Elizabeth Brudenell Countess of Cardigan 19 May 1730
Frances Thynne Countess of Hertford 26 May 1730
Mary Tufton Countess of Harold 6 November 1733
Anne Lennox Countess of Albemarle 6 November 1734
Anne Weldon Barnard Baroness Trevor 2 December 1734
Anne King Dowager Baroness Ockham 21 January 1735
Margaret Cavendish Harley Duchess of Portland 7 May 1735

In 2018 the Foundling Museum held an exhibition to raise awareness of the role of women in founding and running the Foundling Hospital, called "Ladies of Quality and Distinction".[4][5][6] By their actions, these women succeeded.[2][5]

References

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  1. ^ Gillian., Wagner (2004). Thomas Coram, Gent., 1668-1751. Woodbridge, Suffolk: The Boydell Press. ISBN 1843830574. OCLC 53361054.
  2. ^ a b c McClure, Ruth K. (1981). Coram's children : the London Foundling Hospital in the eighteenth century. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 276n30. ISBN 0300024657. OCLC 6707267.
  3. ^ Elizabeth Einberg, 'Elegant Revolutionaries', article in Ladies of Quality and Distinction Catalogue, Foundling Hospital, London 2018, pp. 14-15, p.15. https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/events/ladies-of-quality-distinction/ Archived 17 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Ladies of Quality & Distinction Exhibition". Foundling Museum. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b Clinton, Jane (22 February 2018). "Help find Foundling 'mothers'". Camden New Journal. New Journal Enterprises. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  6. ^ Sanderson, David (19 February 2018). "Race to honour first ladies of charity". The Sunday Times. London, England: Times Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
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