Adelina Munro Drysdale


Princess Adelina de Colonna, Duchess of Rignano was a Scottish Argentine socialite. The town of Villa Adelina in Argentina is named after her.

Early life and family

Drysdale was born on 19 September 1896 in Buenos Aires to Thomas James Drysdale and Elisabeth Mary Munro, a descendant of the Clan Munro. Her father, born in London, moved to Argentina after completing his education. Her paternal grandfather, :es:Joseph Drysdale|Joseph Drysdale, was a prominent businessman who emigrated from Scotland to Argentina. Her maternal grandfather, Duncan Mackay Munro, was a Scottish industrialist who managed the Córdoba and Rosario Railway, Córdoba Central Railway, :es:Ferrocarril Noroeste Argentino|Argentine Northwest Railway and later served as the British Vice-Consul of Córdoba. Her grandfather had the town of Villa Adelina named after her. After her father died of typhoid in 1897, her mother remarried Count Francesco Bottaro Costa, an Italian nobleman and diplomat, in 1903. The family later moved to Europe due to Drysdale's stepfather's diplomatic appointments, settling in Rome. When Drysdale was eighteen years old she was presented at court to Queen Elena of Italy.
On 10 September 1917 Drysdale married Prince, Duke of Rignano in Paris. Her husband was the son of Prospero Colonna, Duke of Rignano, Prince of Sonnino, who served as the mayor of Rome. She and Prince Mario had five children:
Her husband died in a airplane crash in 1938. Drysdale died in Rome on 14 December 1942 after suffering from an illness.
Drysdale's biography, titled Adelina... La Princesa, was written by Francisco Diurno in 1991.