Catherine Gladstone

Catherine Gladstone (née Glynne), born on 6 January 1812 and deceased on 14 June 1900, was the wife of British statesman William Ewart Gladstone. She was married to William Gladstone from 1839 until his death in 1898, a period of approximately 59 years.

Early life and family background:

Catherine Glynne was the daughter of Honorable Mary Griffin, who was the second daughter of John Griffin, 2nd Baron Braybrooke, and Sir Stephen Glynne, 8th Baronet of Hawarden Castle. Her father died when Catherine was three years old, after which her brother Stephen Glynne inherited the estate at the age of seven. She was raised with her sister Mary by their mother, and the Glynne sisters were known for their physical beauty. The family lineage included numerous connections to prominent figures in English political and social history, with Lucy Masterman noting that Catherine was related, through her heredity, to many significant names in English politics.

Marriage and personal life:

Catherine Glynne met William Ewart Gladstone through her brother Stephen, who was a Liberal Member of Parliament representing Flint. Their acquaintance was reputedly established in 1834 at a gathering hosted by James Milnes Gaskell in London. Catherine and William Gladstone were married on 25 July 1839 at Hawarden Church in Flintshire, Wales. The couple resided at Hawarden Castle, her ancestral home.

Children:

Catherine and William Gladstone had eight children:

- William Henry Gladstone (1840–1891), who married Hon. Gertrude Stuart and had three children.

- Agnes Gladstone (1842–1931), married Very Rev. Edward Wickham, with whom she had three children.

- Rev. Stephen Edward Gladstone (1844–1920), married Annie Wilson; their eldest son, Albert, succeeded as the Gladstone baronet in 1945.

- Catherine Jessy Gladstone (1845–1850), who died at age five of meningitis.

- Mary Gladstone (1847–1927), married Reverend Harry Drew; they had one daughter, Dorothy.

- Helen Gladstone (1849–1925), Vice-Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge.

- Henry Neville Gladstone, 1st Baron Gladstone of Hawarden (1852–1935), married Hon. Maud Rendel.

- Herbert Gladstone, 1st Viscount Gladstone (1854–1930), who served as a Member of Parliament and as the first Governor-General of South Africa.

Death and legacy:

Catherine Gladstone passed away on 14 June 1900 and was interred beside her husband in Westminster Abbey. Her daughter Mary referred collectively to William and Catherine Gladstone as "The Great People."

Character and reputation:

According to Lucy Masterman, Catherine Gladstone was regarded as an informal genius, capable of conducting her life according to an intuitive method. She was characterized by her informal and unruly personal habits, often leaving her letters and belongings scattered. Despite her disheveled lifestyle, she was dedicated to social causes, notably founding convalescent homes and orphanages. Her efforts in philanthropy have been recognized as extensive, often driven by inspired impulses and a circle of dedicated supporters.

References:

The biography primarily draws from sources such as the National Portrait Gallery, the UK National Archives, and Cassell's Universal Portrait Gallery (1895). Additional details of her life and character have been documented in historical texts and biographical accounts related to the Gladstone family.