Lady Mary Tudor
Lady Mary Tudor, Countess of Derwentwater was an actress and natural daughter of King Charles II of England by his mistress, Mary "Moll" Davies, an actress and singer.Biography
Early life and title
Mary grew up in a house on the south-west side of St James Square, close to St James's Park and Whitehall palace, and from an early age she was surrounded by the high society of The Restoration. Mary followed in her mother’s footsteps, and began acting at a young age. She was a part of the many performances put on at Charles II’s elaborate court. At age nine, she sang the part of the Roman god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection, Cupid, alongside her mother, who was starring as Venus, in the play Venus and Adonis.
On 10 December 1680, Mary, then aged seven, was, in recognition of her paternity, granted by a Royal warrant, the name Tudor and the precedence of the daughter of an Earl. In September 1683, she was issued an annuity of £1500, and a year later, on 21 February 1684, her precedence was heightened to that of a daughter of a Duke.Marriages and children
On 18 August 1687, Lady Mary married Edward Radclyffe, 2nd Earl of Derwentwater by whom she had four children:
Mary separated from Lord Derwentwater in 1700, reportedly due to her unwillingness to convert to Roman Catholicism.
On 23 May 1705, shortly after Lord Derwentwater's death, she married secondly, to Henry Graham. Graham died on 7 January 1707. A few months later, on 26 August, Lady Mary married Major James Rooke.Death
Lady Mary died in Paris on 5 November 1726, aged 53.
