Alice De Lancey Izard

Alice De Lancey Izard (, De Lancey; 1745 – April 1, 1832) was an American socialite. Her life was one of varied experiences, reaching from the seclusion of a South Carolina plantation where she introduced the culture of silkworms, hoping it to be a benefit to the state, to the social life in European cities. She spent several winters prior to the American Revolution in London society, after which she resided in Paris, where she was said to be admired at exclusive French salons. She accompanied her husband, Ralph Izard, to the Court of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Mrs. Izard took on the role of a politician's wife while her husband served as a U.S. Senator. In her later years, widowed, she conducted dinner parties in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Born in New York City into a well-connected family, her grandfathers were Étienne de Lancy and Cadwallader Colden. She had several siblings, including brothers Stephen De Lancey and James De Lancey. Mr. and Mrs. Izard had fourteen children including, Ralph DeLancey Izard and George Izard.

Early life Alice De Lancey was born in New York City, 1745. She was the second daughter of Peter DeLancey (1705–1770), of Westchester County, New York, and Elizabeth (née Colden) DeLancey.

Among her siblings were brothers, James De Lancey, a Loyalist, and Stephen DeLancey, both later serving as members of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia. In 1775, her sister Jane Delancey (1750–1809) married John Watts in a double wedding, along with her other sister, Susannah Delancey (1754–1837), who married Thomas Henry Barclay. Jane and her husband resided in Broadway; during the first session of the first Congress, the Watts entertained Senator Izard and family in the Watts mansion. Her maternal grandfather, Cadwallader Colden, and her uncle, James De Lancey served as Colonial Governors of New York.

Her girlhood was spent in New York's social circles.

Career South Carolina In 1767, Alice married Ralph Izard, of South Carolina, whom she had met while he was a student at Harvard University. He had been educated at the University of Cambridge, and after returning to America, had passed his winters in South Carolina and his summers in New York City. He was financially well-off and of a high social standing. Here, also, Mrs. Izard adapted herself to different life from which she had been accustomed. Her husband was a man of wealth, and the Izards one of the most distinguished families of the South, having emigrated to South Carolina in 1694. It was Mrs. Izard who introduced into South Carolina the culture of silk worms, hoping it to be a benefit to the state. The garden at The Elms was her especial care and pride, with its rose trees, cape jessamine hedges, and the flowers that blossomed each year.

In 1777, Mr. Izard moved his family to Paris, France, where Mrs. Izard was met with the same social success she had known in other countries. She was admired at exclusive salons, her domestic life being given even greater note at these gatherings. Widowed, she removed to Philadelphia where she hosted dinner parties and other gatherings of the city's social elite.

Personal life In 1767, she married Ralph Izard. Through her marriage, she accepted very different views from her family as to the patriot cause. Her family members were staunch Loyalists, while Mr. Izard identified with Southern politics. However, Mrs. Izard was tactful, never letting politics interfere with her relationships. Ralph DeLancey Izard, a naval hero of Tripoli. The World War II USS Izard was named after him. In 1808, Izard married Eliza Pinckney, daughter of Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a signer of the Constitution, and a granddaughter of Colonel Charles Pinckney, Chief Justice of South Carolina. Ralph's wife was also a niece of Arthur Middleton. Major General George Izard, a governor of Arkansas. Anne Izard, who married William Allan Deas (1764–1863), with whom she had a son, Charles Deas, a painter. William's brother was Col. James Sutherland Deas (1784–1864) who was the father of CS General Zachariah C. Deas. Charlotte Izard, who married William Loughton Smith, a son of South Carolina Assemblyman Benjamin Smith; William L. Smith was also a brother-in-law of South Carolina Congressman Isaac Motte. Margaret Izard Manigault. Margaret's grandson was Charles Manigault Morris who was also a great-grandson of Lewis Morris. A cousin of Charles Manigault Morris was General Arthur Middleton Manigault.

Alice De Lancey Lizard died April 1, 1832, at the age of 87.

Paintings While she was a resident of London the portrait of her was painted by Thomas Gainsborough, R. A. In this portrait, she is simply gowned in white. The low-cut bodice is surplice fashioned and a pink rose with leaves and bud is added into the folds. The loose sleeves fall from sloping shoulders, being relieved where they are thrown back, with a bit of narrow lace. The waist is outlined by a blue tied scarf which contrasts with the roses tumbling from the basket held in her left hand. The natural oval of the face is accentuated by the towering hairstyle into which is twined a rope of pearls, the same jewels clasped at the throat. The forehead is high; the brow raised a trifle, the eyes blue, while the small ear set close to the head, the slim straight nose and mouth attest the beauty of the young matron. Upon the back of the canvas is inscribed: "Mrs. Alice Izard, formerly Alice De Lancey. Painted in London, by Gainsborough, in 1772."

Copley also presents this woman in a portrait of herself and husband, done when they were in Rome, in 1774. By the time the artist had completed his work, which is after the style of Reynolds, the Revolution was hovering over the Colonies, so Mr. Izard was unable to send payment from his South Carolina home, and was forced to leave the painting with Copley. For 50 years, it remained stored away in the attic of that family.

Later, she sat to Malbone for a miniature.