Grace Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston

Who was Grace Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston?

Grace Elvina, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston was born as Grace Elvina Hinds in Alabama, a daughter of J. Monroe Hinds, former United States Minister to Brazil. Her first husband was Alfred Hubert Duggan of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with whom she had three children, including two sons – Alfred Duggan, an author of historical fiction, and Hubert Duggan, later a British Member of Parliament. Her daughter Marcella Rice was mother of Caroline Margaret Rice, wife of the 7th Earl of Plymouth.

She was a wealthy woman after her husband's death. In 1916, Philip Alexius de László painted her as a widow. In 1917 she became the second wife of George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston. In later years some joked that despite his political disappointments, Curzon still enjoyed "the means of Grace".

Curzon had three daughters from his first marriage to Mary Victoria Leiter, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston: Mary Irene, Lady Ravensdale in 1896; Cynthia Blanche, on 23 August 1898; and Alexandra Naldera, on April 20, 1904. Despite fertility-related operations and several miscarriages, Lady Curzon was never able to give Curzon the son and heir he desperately desired, a fact that eroded their marriage, which ended in separation, though not divorce.