The Duchess of Cleveland

Catherine Lucy Wilhelmina Stanhope was born 1 June 1819. She was the only daughter of Philip Henry Stanhope, 4th Earl Stanhope and Honourable Catherine Lucy Smith. On 20 September 1843, Catherine married, Archibald Primrose, Lord Dalmeny, son of Archibald John Primrose, 4th Earl of Rosebery and Harriett Bouverie. By her first marriage she had four children :

Lady Mary Catherine Constance Primrose b. c 1845, d. 3 Sep 1935
Lady Constance Evelyn Primrose b. 1 May 1846, d. 27 Jun 1939
Sir Archibald Philip Primrose 5th Earl of Rosebery b. 7 May 1847, d. 21 May 1929
Colonel Everard Henry Primrose b. 8 Sep 1848, d. 9 Apr 1885

Catherine's son Archibald became Prime minister in 1894. Rosebery is reputed to have said that he had three aims in life - To win the Derby, to marry an heiress, and to become Prime Minister. He managed all three. When Gladstone retired in 1894, Rosebery became his successor, and was Prime Minister from 1894 to 1895. In 1878, Rosebery married Hannah, daughter to Baron Mayer de Rothschild. Hannah was the one of the richest women in the World at that point. As a result of his marriage to Hannah de Rothschild, Rosebery acquired Mentmore Stud and built another stable and stud near Mentmore Towers at Crafton, called Crafton Stud. Rosebery's horses won at least one of each of the five English Classic races.

After the death of Lord Dalmeny in 1851, Catherine married Sir Harry George Powlett, 4th Duke of Cleveland, son of Sir William Henry Vane, 1st Duke of Cleveland and Lady Catherine Margaret Powlett. The marriage took place on the 2 August 1854 in Chevening, Kent, England. As a result of her marriage, Catherine was styled as Duchess of Cleveland on 6 September 1864. She was author of the "The Battle Abbey Roll", published in 3 volumes in 1889, Handbook for Raby castle published in 1870, The life and letters of Lady Hester Stanhope published in 1914 and The true story of Kaspar Hauser published in 1893.

Lady St. Helier writes that "in her youth Catherine had been a most beautiful woman. She possessed much of the ability of her brother; she was widely read, talked very well, and was a good artist." A celebrated beauty, Catherine was a maid of honour and bridesmaid of Queen Victoria. Catherine died from heart failure at the age of 81. Her death occured on the 18 May 1901 in Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany and she was buried on 24 May 1901 in Staindrop, County Durham, England.