Albinia Hobart

Albinia Vere Hobart, Countess of Buckinghamshire (née Bertie; 3 November 1738 – 11 March 1816) was an English noblewoman and socialite. She was the co-heiress of her father, Lord Vere Bertie, and became the Countess of Buckinghamshire by marriage in 1793. Her lifestyle and size made her the subject and victim of cartoons by James Gillray and others; she figures in more than 50 satirical prints.

Early life

Hobart was born Albinia Bertie to Lord Vere Bertie and Anne Casey. Her mother's father was Sir Cecil Wray, 11th Baronet; Anne Casey was illegitimate but her father's heiress, left in his will dated 21 January 1735/6 £14,000 and all his estates.

Reputation William Pitt the younger and Hobart. Here she is the victim of a 1792 engraving by James Gillray "A sphere, projecting against a plane"

The fashion at the time was for gambling, particularly with the card game faro. She and other celebrities like Charles James Fox and Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire were renowned for their indulgent gambling. The Hobarts were known for this extravagance. Despite not having a licence, she allowed her house to be used for high-stakes gambling. By this device she managed to lose money and to fall foul of the authorities. She was having fun and losing money and so was her husband.

He tried a number of careers with poor results and consoled himself with mistresses. Despite their other interests the couple had four daughters and three sons. Meanwhile the press saw her illegal gambling and indulgent parties as a legitimate target. The commentators at the time could not resist noting the growing size of Albinia and her love of extravagant fashion which was intended more for her daughters. After her death in 1796, he married the Hon. Eleanor Eden, daughter of William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland, in 1799. Hon. George Vere Hobart (1761–1802), who married first Jane Cataneo and had issue, married second, in April 1802, Janet Maclean and had issue Lt. Charles Hobart of the Royal Navy. Rev. Hon. Henry Lewis Hobart (1774–1846), who married Charlotte Selina Moore and had issue. Lady Albinia Hobart (1759–1850), married Richard Cumberland in 1784 and had issue. Lady Henrietta Anne Barbara Hobart (–1828), who married, in 1789, John Sullivan and had issue. Lady Maria Frances Hobart (–1794), who married George North, 3rd Earl of Guilford and had issue. Lady Charlotte Hobart (d. 1798), who married Col. Edward Disbrowe (d. 1818) and had issue, including Edward Cromwell Disbrowe.

On her husband's death in 1804, she became the Dowager Countess of Buckinghamshire. She died on 11 March 1816 in Nocton, where she was buried with her husband.