|
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
|
Lady Hamilton
|
|
(Amy Lyon, c.1765–1815, m. William Hamilton 1791) Daughter of a blacksmith, William Lyon, who was using the name Emma Hart by the time she was the 15-year-old mistress of the owner of *Uppark. There she met and became attached to a young aristocrat, Charles Greville, who introduced her to his friend George *Romney – which is why we have so many paintings of the young temptress. Greville had heavy debts and he passed Emma on to his rich uncle Sir William Hamilton (1730–1803) in return for his debts being settled.
|
|
|
|
Hamilton, a noted collector of classical antiquities, was British envoy to the court of Naples, where Emma became a celebrity, famous for her 'attitudes' (poses in classical scenes). *Nelson met her there in the 1790s and by 1799 was her lover. The relationship ended Nelson's own marriage but Sir William tolerated it, and in 1802–3 the Hamiltons and Nelson lived together in a house at Merton, now in southwest London. Emma had a daughter by Nelson, christened Horatia (1801–81).
|
|
|
|