Marianne Wellesley, Marchioness Wellesley

Marianne Wellesley, Marchioness Wellesley (née Caton, previously Patterson), was born in 1788 and died on 17 December 1853. She was an American who became a British aristocrat through marriage. Her origins trace back to Baltimore, Maryland, where her father, Richard Caton, was engaged in commerce. The Caton family was Roman Catholic, and Marianne’s mother, Mary, was the daughter of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who was a notable signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and died in 1832.

Marianne first married Robert Patterson, whose family, originally spelled Paterson, was prosperous and lived as neighbors to the Catons in Baltimore. Robert Patterson’s sister, Elizabeth Patterson, married Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. In an effort to improve Marianne’s health, she and her husband traveled to Europe, accompanied by two of her sisters. One of these sisters, Louisa, married Sir Felton Hervey-Bathurst in 1813; after Sir Felton's death, she remarried Francis D'Arcy-Osborne, the Marquess of Carmarthen, who later became the 7th Duke of Leeds. Another sister, Elizabeth, married George Stafford-Jerningham, 8th Baron Stafford, as his second wife.

Following her first husband's death in 1822, Marianne married Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, on 29 October 1825 in Dublin. At that time, Richard Wellesley was serving as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, a position he had held since 1821. Marianne’s marriage to Wellesley made her the Vicereine of Ireland until 1828, when her husband’s term concluded. Evidence suggests that Marianne and Wellesley may have already been romantically involved prior to their marriage. Wellesley’s financial situation was strained, and it has been proposed that Marianne’s inheritance was a factor in his proposal. Her family disapproved of the marriage due to Wellesley's reputation and the fact that he had children from his first marriage to Hyacinthe-Gabrielle Roland.

Portraits of Marianne Wellesley exist, including one painted by Christina Robertson. An engraving by Thomas Anthony Dean of her portrait is held by the National Portrait Gallery in London. Additionally, she was the subject of an unfinished portrait by Thomas Lawrence.

In 1830, Marianne was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, the wife of King William IV of the United Kingdom. She served in this capacity until William IV’s death in 1837.

Marianne Wellesley passed away at Hampton Court Palace on 17 December 1853, at the age of 65. She was buried at Costessey in Norfolk, the estate of her sister Lady Stafford.