Mary Grey, Countess Grey
Mary Elizabeth Grey, Countess Grey was a British aristocrat and political hostess. She is notable for being the wife of the prime minister in the 1830s through her marriage to Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey.
Biography
Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby was born on 4 March 1776 in Whitehaven. She was the only daughter of William Ponsonby, the future 1st Baron Ponsonby and his wife, the Honourable Louisa Molesworth, daughter of Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth.Personal life
She married on 18 November 1794 Charles Grey MP, the future 2nd Earl Grey and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He was the son of Charles Grey, later 1st Baron Grey and 1st Earl Grey, and his wife Elizabeth Grey née Grey. They had ten sons and five daughters:- Lady Louisa Elizabeth Grey ; married John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
- Lady Elizabeth Grey ; married John Crocker Bulteel
- Lady Caroline Grey ; married Capt. The Hon. George Barrington
- Lady Georgiana Grey ; never married
- Henry George Grey, 3rd Earl Grey, eldest son, who became a politician like his father
- General Charles Grey, father of Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey
- Admiral Sir Frederick William Grey
- Lady Mary Grey ; married Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax
- Hon. William Grey
- Admiral Hon. George Grey ; married Jane Frances, daughter of Gen Hon Sir Patrick Stuart
- Hon. Thomas Grey
- Rev. Hon. John Grey MA, DD ; married Lady Georgiana Hervey. Remarried Helen Spalding
- Rev. Hon. Francis Richard Grey MA ; married Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle, and Lady Georgiana Cavendish
- Hon. Henry Cavendish Grey ; Army Captain
- Hon. William George Grey ; married Theresa Catherine, only daughter of Maj-Gen Count Stedink, Insp-Gen of Cavalry, Sweden.