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Maria Fitzherbert

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Mistress

The Resume

    (July 26, 1756-March 27, 1837)
    Born in Brambridge, England, United Kingdom
    Birth name was Maria Smythe
    Was secretly (and illegally) married to the Prince of Wales, the future King George IV (December 15, 1785)

Why she might be annoying:

    Both of her legal husbands were rich landowners at least 10 years older than her.
    One contemporary account described her mouth as misshapened by badly fitting false teeth.
    Under the Royal Marriages Act, her marriage to the Prince of Wales was considered invalid because it had not been approved by King George III and the Privy Council.
    Since she was a Catholic, if they had been married openly, George would have been removed from the line of succession to the British throne.
    She received a £3000 a year pension from George.

Why she might not be annoying:

    Her first husband died three months after the wedding when he fell off his horse, leaving her destitute since he had never revised his will, thus leaving his property to his brother.
    She initially resisted George's advances, even going on an extended European vacation to avoid him.
    She relented and agreed to marry George after he repeatedly threatened to commit suicide.
    George pawned some of her jewelry to pay off his creditors.
    George dumped her and married Caroline of Brunswick in return for Parliament paying off his debts.
    Considering how bitter his marriage to Caroline was, he may have regretted not renouncing the throne and openly marrying Maria.
    George died wearing a locket containing her picture around his neck.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 22 Votes: 90.91% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 75.00% Annoying