Captivating Caroline

Articles in this Topic Discussions in this Topic

May 3, 2000

In nineteenth century England a married woman had no separate legal existence from her husband. Her property, with the exception of property secured to her alone in Equity, passed to her husband. If she worked her earnings belonged to her husband. Any contracts that she entered into were not legally binding, and she could not legally sue anybody. Her husband retained legal control of the children and could refuse her access upon separation or divorce. He could even ask his mistress to look after them. One woman changed this situation, which must have caused untold misery, entirely - Caroline Norton.

Beautiful, talented and witty, Caroline was the granddaughter of the great Irish playwright and politician, Richard Brinsley Sheridan , author of The School for Scandal. Although Sheridan attained great social and policitical success, mixing with the Regent and Devonshire House set, he ended his days in poverty and squalour, ruined by addiction to drink and ever-increasing debt. Even in his slow decline, however, he could still cut a dash. Byron, the famous romantic poet and rebel, chose Sheridan as his model, stating: "In society I have met him frequently: he was superb."

Caroline's father, Thomas, also a poet and briefly Colonial Treasurer of the Cape of Good Hope, unfortunately did not inherit his father's greatness. Extravagant and affected by the tendency to consumption of the Linley's, his maternal family, he is remembered mainly because of his children 'who were to carry all the panache associated with the name of Sheridan into the London of the thirties'.1

Tom died in 1817, leaving his widow, Caroline with a minor pension and seven children - three girls and four boys - to raise. Luckily they were provided with a Grace and Favour lodging at Hampton Court because of Richard Brinsley's friendship with the Duke of York. They were therefore able to enjoy beautiful and luxurious surroundings, which they could not otherwise have afforded.

Helen, the oldest daughter, described the trio of girls this way: "Georgey's the beauty, Cary's the wit, and I ought to be the good one, but I am not". Caroline, dark-haired with large brown eyes and 'long sweeping lashes', attracted the attention of George Norton, heir to Lord Grantley, while she was still a schoolgirl. He didn't speak to her, but was so entranced by her good looks, that he sent a letter to Mrs Norton, asking for Caroline's hand. Mrs. Norton refused, on the grounds that Caroline was too young.

Go To Page: 1 2 3 4

The copyright of the article Captivating Caroline in British Social History is owned by . Permission to republish Captivating Caroline in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.