Marie Fox

Princess Marie of Liechtenstein (born Marie Henriette Adélaïde Fox; 21 December 1850 – 26 December 1878) was a French-born English writer. A foundling of unknown paternity, she was adopted by the childless English nobleman Henry Fox, 4th Baron Holland (1802–1859) and his wife, and eventually married into the Princely House of Liechtenstein.

Background

Marie was born in Paris (though some sources wrongly say she was born in Florence) on 21 December 1850 (though some sources wrongly say she was born in January 1851). Her mother's name was given as Frenchwoman Victoire Magny of Soissons, but the identity of her father was unspecified.

In April 1851, aged three months, Marie was found by a physician called Dr. Séguin, who arranged for her to be adopted by the childless English aristocrat Henry Fox, 4th Baron Holland (1802–1859), of Holland House in Kensington, near London, and his wife Lady Mary Augusta Coventry (1812–1889), a daughter of George Coventry, 8th Earl of Coventry.

Her biological paternity remains a mystery; one rumour had it that she was her adoptive father's natural daughter born by his servant. Her paternal aunt, Lady Lilford, wrote in 1867: "Marie is much grown and improved. She is a very nice and affectionate girl, and has been thoroughly well educated."

In the winter of 1871, which Marie spent with her mother in Naples, she was courted by Prince Louis of Liechtenstein, a first cousin of Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein. Their engagement was announced in the spring. The marriage ceremony took place in Kensington pro-cathedral, London, on 27 June 1872 and was performed by Henry Edward Manning, Cardinal-Archbishop of Westminster. The Princely House of Liechtenstein initially refused to approve the marriage on the grounds of inequality of birth, but the princess was later accepted in Vienna. Princess Sophie Maria Josepha (Berlin, 29 March 1873 – Graz, 2 March 1947), married in Graz on 31 July 1897 Franz Ürményi d'Ürmény (Ürmény, 14 January 1863 – Baden bei Wien, 20 February 1934), childless which sold well despite criticism from Abraham Hayward. George Frederic Watts painted portraits of Marie at least twice, one as a child standing with her pet Spanish pointer and another as a young woman.

List of works Liechtenstein, Princess Marie, Holland House, 2 Vols., London, 1874. Illustrated with 38 mounted woodbury-type prints; engravings, lithographs, etc. Volume 1 Volume 2 Volumes 1 & 2, 3rd Edition, 1875

Death Marie died at Schloss Burgstall in Styria on 26 December 1878, aged 28.