Subhah Shirin: new stub

2026-01-21T20:50:49Z

new stub

New page

{{Short description|British aristocrat and Vicereine of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}{{Use British English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = The Viscountess Chelmsford
| honorific_prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| image = File:Frances-Charlotte-ne-Guest-Viscountess-Chelmsford.jpg
| caption = Portrait of the Lady Chelmsford, c. 1910
| relations = ''Guest family''<br>[[Lord Randolph Churchill]] (uncle)<br>[[Winston Churchill]] (cousin)
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=|CI|GBE}}
| birth_place = [[Mayfair]], London, England
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1869|03|22}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1957|09|24|1869|03|22}}
| death_place = [[Westminster]], London, England
| spouse = {{marriage|Hon. [[Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford|Frederic Thesiger]]<br />|1894}}
| parents = [[Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne]]<br>[[Cornelia Guest, Baroness Wimborne|Lady Cornelia Spencer-Churchill]]
| office = [[Viceroy of India|Viceregal-Consort of India]]
| term_start = 14 April 1916
| term_end = 2 April 1921
| monarch = [[George V]]
| governor-general = [[Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford|The Lord Chelmsford]]
| successor = [[Alice Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading|The Countess of Reading]]
| predecessor = [[Winifred Hardinge, Baroness Hardinge of Penshurst|The Lady Hardinge of Penshurst]]
}}
'''Frances Charlotte Thesiger, Viscountess Chelmsford''', {{Postnom|country=UK|CI|GBE|sep=,|size=100%}} (''née'' '''Guest'''; 22 March 1869 – 24 September 1957), styled as the '''Lady Chelmsford''' until 1921,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thesiger, Frances Charlotte (Lady Chelsmford) {{!}} The Dictionary of Sydney |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/person/thesiger_frances_charlotte_lady_chelsmford |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=dictionaryofsydney.org}}</ref> was a British [[aristocrat]] and [[Vicereine of India]].

Born in [[Mayfair, London]], she was the eldest daughter of wealthy industrialist [[Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne]] and [[Cornelia Guest, Baroness Wimborne|Lady Cornelia Spencer-Churchill]], the daughter of the [[7th Duke of Marlborough]]. Through her mother she was a first cousin of Prime Minister Sir [[Winston Churchill]]. She was made a [[Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]] in 1917 and was also invested with the [[Order of the Crown of India|Imperial Order of the Crown of India]].

== Early life ==
{{See also|Guest family}}
She was born at 12 [[Brook Street, London|Upper Brook Street, London]], the eldest daughter of nine children born to [[Cornelia Guest, Baroness Wimborne|Lady Cornelia Henrietta]] (''née'' Spencer-Churchill; 1847–1927) and [[Ivor Bertie Guest]], a wealthy industrialist created the first [[Baron Wimborne]] in 1880.<ref name=":0">Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). ''Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood'' (107 ed.). Burke’s Peerage & Gentry. p. 760. {{ISBN|0-9711966-2-1}}.</ref> On her mother's side she was a scion of the [[Dukes of Marlborough]]; [[Lord Randolph Churchill]], father of [[Winston Churchill]], was her maternal uncle.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Soames |first=Mary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMP93v2i7qQC&pg=PA675 |title=Winston and Clementine: The Personal Letters of the Churchills |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-618-08251-3 |pages=154–157 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=Howell G. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hYZNEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA419 |title=Porcelain Analysis and Its Role in the Forensic Attribution of Ceramic Specimens |date=2021-11-09 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-80952-2 |pages=419 |language=en}}</ref> On her father's side she descended from the industrialist Guest family, whose fortune derived from the [[Dowlais Ironworks]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Owen, J. A. |title=The History of the Dowlais Iron Works 1759-1970 |publisher=Starling Press |year=1977 |isbn=0-903434-27-X |location=Newport}}</ref><ref>{{ cite DWB| last=Price |first=W. W. |author-link=Watkin William Price | title=GUEST family, iron-masters, coal owners, etc. | id=s-GUES-DOW-1722 | access-date=2021-10-31 | year=1959 }}</ref> The union of her parents was not considered a good one for her mother, Lady Cornelia; the Guests were seen as [[Parvenu|parvenus]] by some members of the more-established gentry.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Pritchard |first=Rachel |date=2013-09-11 |title=The Life of Frances Guest, Lady Chelmsford |url=https://www.edwardianpromenade.com/women/the-life-of-frances-guest-lady-chelmsford/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Edwardian Promenade |language=en-US}}</ref> Her family were nonetheless prominent in the exclusive London society; they owned London property in [[Mayfair]] and [[St James's]], as well as estates in [[Dorset]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mair |first=Robert Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mjsrAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA102 |title=Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench |date=1882 |publisher=Dean and Son |pages=101–102 |language=en}}</ref> She had nine siblings, including politicians [[Henry Guest]] and [[Oscar Guest]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997-05-22 |title=John Guest, 84, Investment Banker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/22/nyregion/john-guest-84-investment-banker.html |access-date=2024-01-03 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Her beauty, charm, and good-heritage attracted many suitors for her [[Debutante|debut]] in 1887. However, her younger sister had married before her, leading to speculation that Frances was choosy with suitors, wishing instead for a genuine love-match. On 29 January 1894, it was announced that Frances was engaged to Sir Egbert Sebright. However, several weeks later the engagement dissolved.<ref name=":1" />

On 28 July 1894 at [[St George's, Hanover Square]], she married the Hon. [[Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford|Frederic John Napier Thesiger]], heir to the [[Baron Chelmsford|barony of Chelmsford]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Shaw |first=Christine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BDIZAQAAIAAJ |title=Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage 2008 |date=2007 |publisher=Debrett's |isbn=978-1-870520-80-5 |language=en}}</ref>

== In Australia ==
[[File:StateLibQld 2 85148 Lord and Lady Chelmsford at Government House, Brisbane, 1905.jpg|thumb|The Chelmsfords in Brisbane, 1905]]
In April 1905, Thesiger succeeded his father as the third [[Baron Chelmsford]], and in July was appointed [[Governor of Queensland]], Australia. Lord and Lady Chelmsford arrived in [[Brisbane]] in November, with Chelmsford being sworn in. His term was to be dominated by conflict between the [[Queensland Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] and the [[Legislative Assembly of Queensland|Legislative Assembly]] and the emergence of three evenly divided parties in the lower house. Lord Chelmsford was appointed [[Governor of New South Wales]] in 1909, being based in [[Sydney]], a position he retained until 1913.<ref name=":2">{{Citation |title=third Baron Chelmsford (1868–1933) |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/chelmsford-third-baron-5573 |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |access-date=2024-01-03 |place=Canberra |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en}}</ref>

In Australia, Lady Chelmsford involved herself in charitable works, being particularly concerned with hospitals, educating women, and improving the welfare of women and children generally.<ref name=":1" /> Both her and her husband were also interested in playing music, specifically the [[C. Bechstein|Bechstein]]. Lady Chelmsford was responsible for importing 500 [[Rose tree|rose trees]] from France to be installed at [[Government House, Sydney|Government House]]. The Chelmsford left Australia in March 1913, returning to England.<ref name=":2" />

== In India ==
Upon the outbreak of war in 1914, Lord Chelmsford joined [[Dorset Regiment|his regiment]] as a Captain and was posted to India, with Lady Chelmsford accompanying him. In March 1916, he was appointed to the esteemed position of [[Viceroy and Governor-General of India]]. The pair were very pleased with the appointment, especially upon discovering that the income and allowances of the Viceroy was £60,000 per year<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sun 6 February 1916 - The Henson Journals |url=https://henson.durham.ac.uk/journals/16-02-06 |website=henson.durham.ac.uk |pages=637–639}}</ref> (equivalent to £6 million present-day).<ref>{{Cite web |title=£60,000 in 1916 → 2023 {{!}} UK Inflation Calculator |url=https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/1916 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=www.in2013dollars.com |language=en}}</ref>

In India she again involved herself in charitable causes, this time funding the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] and supporting soldiers welfare in India.<ref name=":1" />

On 15 June 1921, her husband was elevated as Viscount Chelmsford, and she was then-on thus styled as the Viscountess Chelmsford.

== Family ==
Lord and Lady Chelmsford had six children:<ref name=":0" />

* Hon. Joan Frances Vere Thesiger (1 August 1895 – 15 May 1971)<ref name=":0" />
* Lt. Hon. Frederic Ivor Thesiger (17 October 1896 – 1 May 1917)<ref name=":0" />
* Hon. Anne Molyneux Thesiger (17 December 1898 – 10 August 1973)<ref name=":0" />
* Hon. Bridget Mary Thesiger (7 August 1900 – 18 June 1983)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Viscount Chelmsford|Andrew Charles Gerald Thesiger, 2nd Viscount Chelmsford]] (25 July 1903 – 27 September 1970)<ref name=":0" />
* Hon. Margaret St. Clair Sydney Thesiger (7 May 1911 – 1 July 1991)<ref name=":0" />
Her eldest son, and heir to the Chelmsford Viscountcy, Frederic Ivor Thesiger, a Lieutenant in the [[Royal Field Artillery]], was killed in action in May 1917 during the [[Mesopotamian campaign]]. He is buried in the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thesiger, Frederic Ivor |url=https://www.winchestercollegeatwar.com/RollofHonour.aspx?RecID=603&TableName=ta_wwifactfile |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=www.winchestercollegeatwar.com}}</ref>

== Later life ==
After the death of her husband in 1933, she retired to live with her family in [[Canford Magna]], Dorset. She died in London on 24 September 1957 and was buried at the [[Canford Magna Parish Church]].

== References ==
{{Commons category|Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford|Frances Thesiger, Viscountess Chelmsford}}{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chelmsford, Frances, Viscountess}}
[[Category:1869 births]]
[[Category:1957 deaths]]
[[Category:Viceregal consorts of India]]
[[Category:1910s in British India]]
[[Category:Daughters of barons]]
[[Category:British viscountesses by marriage]]
[[Category:Guest family]]
[[Category:Thesiger family|Frances]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Crown of India]]
[[Category:Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]]

Frances Thesiger, Viscountess Chelmsford - Revision history

Subhah Shirin: new stub