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Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton

1748 – 1819

British noble

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About Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton

Lived 1748 – 1819 (aged 70–71).

Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton, formerly Viscountess Molyneux, (née Lady Isabella Stanhope; c. 1748 – 29 January 1819) was a British peeress and society figure.

Biography Lady Isabella Stanhope was the second child of William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington and Lady Caroline FitzRoy, a daughter of Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton. She was an older sister of Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington.

According to the memoirs of Elizabeth Craven, Baroness Craven, Lady Isabella refused the hand of the Duke of Fitz-James.

On 27 November 1768 she married Charles Molyneux, 8th Viscount Molyneux, the future 1st Earl of Sefton in the Peerage of Ireland. On 18 September 1772 Lady Sefton gave birth to a son, the future 2nd Earl of Sefton.

She was painted by notable painters including Catherine Read and Thomas Gainsborough, and engraved by the artist James Watson. A portrait of her by Gainsborough was unveiled at the inaugural exhibit of the Royal Academy of Art. A poem written in 1768 by Temple Luttrell, son of Simon Luttrell, 1st Earl of Carhampton, titled Ode to Lady Isabella Stanshope on Her Birthday, was dedicated to her.

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Important facts

Born
1748
Birth century
Also known as
Isabella Molyneux, Isabella Stanhope, Lady Isabella Stanhope, Viscountess Molyneux

Family & relationships

Spouse
Charles Molyneux, 1st Earl of Sefton
Parent
Caroline Stanhope, Countess of Harrington
Parent
William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington

People in Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton?

British noble

When was Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton born?

Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton was born in 1748.

When did Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton die?

Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton died on 29 January 1819.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton

· Wikidata: Q21555594

· DBpedia: Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton. https://biography.guide/isabella-molyneux-countess-of-sefton/

MLA: "Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/isabella-molyneux-countess-of-sefton/.

Chicago: "Isabella Molyneux, Countess of Sefton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/isabella-molyneux-countess-of-sefton/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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