Elizabeth Brudenell, Countess of Cardigan (née Lady Elizabeth Bruce; January 1689 – December 1745), formerly, was a Scottish noblewoman and a petitioner for the foundation of the Foundling Hospital in London. Her husband was George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan, and she was the mother of the 4th Earl, who later became 1st Duke of Montagu.
Contents
Life
Brudenell was the daughter of Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury and 3rd Earl of Elgin, and his first wife, the former Lady Elizabeth Seymour.
She married the earl on 15 May 1707 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Covent Garden. She had her portrait painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller in the same year. There is also a painting of her by the Dutch artist Herman van der Mijn dating from 1729, in which she is pictured with two of her sons, James and Robert.
Their children included:
George, 4th Earl of Cardigan (1712-1790), who married Lady Mary Montagu and had children.
James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan (1715-1811)
Hon. Robert Brudenell (1726-1768), who married Anne Bisshopp and had one son, Robert Brudenell, 6th Earl of Cardigan. His descendants included Diana, Princess of Wales.
Thomas Brudenell-Bruce (1729-1815), who succeeded to the Bruce estates and was created Earl of Ailesbury in 1776.