Chimay, Louisa Frances |
| NOBLEMAN (BELGIUM) |
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BORN 30 Mar 1738, Deville, Champagne-Ardenne - DIED 1 Jan 1809, Richmond, Greater London BIRTH NAME Louise Francoise Gabrielle d'Alsace-Henin-Lietard, Princesse de Chimay GRAVE LOCATION Richmond, Greater London: Vineyard Passage Burial Ground |
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Louise Françoise Gabrielle d'Alsace-Henin-Lietard came from the Château de Chimay in the Ardennes in Belgium. She was the daughter of Alexandre Gabriel Joseph de Hénin, XII. prince de Chimay (1681-1745). Her mother was Gabrielle Françoise de Beauvau Craon (1708-1758). She married Jacques Francois, Vicomte de Cambis (1727-1792) on 18 November 1755 and thus became Vicomtesse de Cabis. For a while she was the mistress of king Louis XV in 1756, but she did not attract him long. She had several lovers, including the Duc de Lauzun (1747-1793) and she became friends with his wife. She had a serious love affair with Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond. She claimed to have met him in Paris in 1776, but it has also been stated that Henrietta Anna le Clerc (1773-1846) was their illegitimate daughter. During the French Revolution she fled to England, where she seems to have befriended Horace Walpole. She died in Richmond in 1809 and she was buried there. |
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 The grave of Louisa Frances Gabriel d'Alsace Chimay at Vineyard Passage Burial Ground, Richmond. Picture by Androom (11 Aug 2025) |
