Frances Manners, Duchess of Rutland
Her Grace The Dowager Duchess of Rutland | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frances Helen Sweeny 1937 (age 84–85) Marylebone, London, England |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Issue | David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland Lord Robert Manners Lady Theresa Chipman Lord Edward Manners |
| Parents | Charles Sweeny Margaret Whigham |
Frances Helen Manners, Dowager Duchess of Rutland (née Sweeny; born 1937), is a British peeress and the widow of Charles Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland. Following her husband's death in 1999, she has been known as The Dowager Duchess of Rutland.
Early life and family[]
Frances Helen Sweeny was born in 1937 in Marylebone Lane, London, to American amateur golfer, socialite and businessman Charles Francis Sweeny and his wife, debutante Margaret Whigham.[1] Her mother had suffered eight miscarriages and given birth to a stillborn daughter prior to her birth.[2] She was baptised in the Roman Catholic Church on 21 July 1937 at the Brompton Oratory.[3] She had one younger brother, Brian Charles (born 1940 who died on 21 October 2021).
Her parents divorced in 1947 and her mother subsequently married The 11th Duke of Argyll in 1951.[4]
Marriage and family[]
On 15 May 1958, Sweeny married Charles Manners, 10th Duke of Rutland at Caxton Hall.[5] They had four children:
- David Charles Robert Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland (b. 8 May 1959), married Emma Watkins, and has issue
- Lord Robert George Manners (18 June 1961–28 February 1964)
- Lady Helen Theresa Margaret Manners (b. 11 November 1962), married Dr. John Chipman, and had issue
- Lord Edward John Francis Manners (b. 29 May 1965), married Gabrielle Ross, and had issue
The Duchess was widowed in 1999.
References[]
- ^ "Manners, Frances – Duchess was a horse-breeder". Grantham Matters. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ Spence, Lyndsy (5 February 2019). "The real scandal of the Duchess of Argyll is that she was a victim of celebrity hacking". The Scotsman. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Sweeny Christening". Getty Images. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ "The scarlet Duchess of Argyll: Much more than just a Highland fling". The Independent. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ "May 15, 1958".
- 1937 births
- English socialites
- English duchesses by marriage
- English Roman Catholics
- English people of Scottish descent
- English people of American descent
- People from Marylebone
- Living people