Catherine Sedley

Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester (c. 1657 - October 26, 1717), daughter of Sir Charles Sedley was the mistress of King James II of England/VII of Scotland both before and after he came to the throne.

She was created Countess of Dorchester for life in 1686, an elevation which aroused much indignation and compelled Catherine to reside for a time in Ireland. In 1696 she married Sir David Colyear, Bt. (d. 1730), who was created Earl of Portmore in 1703, and she was thus the mother of Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore (1700-1785). She died at Bath on 26 October 1717, when her life peerage became extinct.

By James II, Lady Dorchester had a daughter Catherine (d. 1743), who married James Annesley, 3rd Earl of Anglesey (d. 1702), and after his death married John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby. Through Catherine, her daughter by her first husband, she was the ancestress of the Barons Mulgrave.

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This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.