Lady Mary Tudor, Countess of Derwentwater[1] (16 October 1673 – 5 November 1726) was an actress and natural daughter of King Charles II of England by his mistress, Mary "Moll" Davies, an actress and singer.[2]

Lady Mary Tudor
Born	(1673-10-16)16 October 1673
Died	5 November 1726(1726-11-05) (aged 53) Paris, France
Occupation	Actress
Spouses	Edward Radclyffe, 2nd Earl of Derwentwater ​ ​ (m. 1687; died 1705)​ Henry Graham ​ ​ (m. 1705; died 1707)​ Major James Rooke ​ (m. 1707)​
Children	James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater Lady Mary Tudor Radclyffe Charles Radclyffe Hon. Francis Radclyffe
Parents	Charles II of England Moll Davis

Biography

Early life and title

Mary grew up in a house on the south-west side of St James Square, close to St James's Park and Whitehall palace,[3] and from an early age she was surrounded by the high society of The Restoration. Mary followed in her mother's footsteps, and began acting at a young age. She was a part of the many performances put on at Charles II's elaborate court.[4] At age nine, she sang the part of the Roman god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection, Cupid, alongside her mother, who was starring as Venus, in the play Venus and Adonis.[5]

On 10 December 1680, seven-year-old Mary was, in recognition of her paternity,[1][4] granted by a Royal warrant, the name Tudor (as a nod to their collateral descent from the Tudor family) and the precedence of the daughter of an Earl.[6] In September 1683, she was issued an annuity of £1500 (roughly equivalent to £239,585 in 2021), and a year later, on 21 February 1684, her precedence was heightened to that of a daughter of a Duke.[7]

Marriages and children

On 18 August 1687, Lady Mary married Edward Radclyffe, 2nd Earl of Derwentwater (9 December 1655 – 29 April 1705) by whom she had four children:[8]

• James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater (1689–1716)
• Lady Mary Tudor Radclyffe
• Charles Radclyffe (3 September 1693 – 8 December 1746)
• Hon. Francis Radclyffe

Mary separated from Lord Derwentwater in 1700, reportedly due to her unwillingness to convert to Roman Catholicism.^{[citation needed]}

On 23 May 1705, shortly after Lord Derwentwater's death, she married secondly, to Henry Graham. Graham died on 7 January 1707. A few months later, on 26 August, Lady Mary married Major James Rooke.[8]

Death

Lady Mary died in Paris on 5 November 1726, aged 53. [7]

References