Lady Grey and Children

Summary

A 'tondo', a circular work of art, showing Lady Mary Elizabeth Grey (nee Ponsonby 1776-1861) seated. She wears a simple, dark dress . She holds a book in her right hand and her left arm is placed round one of her daughters. The other daughter stands behind her and has her arms round her mother's neck. Both girls are in pale dresses.The group is placed in front of a large classical structure with a landscape in the background to the left. British aristocrat Countess Grey was the only daughter of William Brabazon, 1st Lord Ponsonby. She married Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey in 1794 (see his portrait 1920.175). He was Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he was leader of various reform movements, most famously the Reform Act of 1834. Louisa Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the Countess, married John G Lambton (later created Earl of Durham) in 1815 as his second wife. She died in 1841. Elizabeth, the second daughter of the Countess, married John Croker Bulteel in 1826 and died in 1880.