Peggy Crewe-Milnes, Marchioness Of Crewe

Margaret Etienne Hannah Crewe-Milnes, Marchioness of Crewe, was born on 1 January 1881 in The Durdans, Epsom, Surrey. She was the daughter of Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Hannah Rothschild, daughter of Baron Mayer de Rothschild. She was the second child among her siblings, following her older sister Sybil, and had two younger brothers named Harry and Neil. Her mother passed away in 1890 when Margaret was nine years old.

She was known by the nickname "Peggy." On 15 April 1899, she married Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, who was subsequently known as the Earl of Crewe, in a ceremony held at Westminster Abbey. Her marriage was notable enough to be compared to the Queen's Jubilee in terms of societal significance, as reported by The New York Times. Among her wedding gifts were rare books presented by her guests.

In 1911, her husband was created Marquess of Crewe, and Margaret received the title of Marchioness. She was known as The Right Honourable The Countess of Crewe until 1911, and thereafter as The Most Honourable The Marchioness of Crewe. She and her husband had two children: a son, Richard, born in 1911 and deceased in 1922, and a daughter, Mary Crewe-Milnes, born in 1915. Mary married George Innes-Ker, the 9th Duke of Roxburghe, in 1935.

Following the death of her father in 1929, she was reputed to be the wealthiest woman in England. Between 1922 and 1928, she resided in Paris while her husband served as the British Ambassador to France. Upon returning to England, the couple purchased West Horsley Place in Sussex.

Lady Crewe was actively involved in public service and was one of the first women appointed as a magistrate in London in 1919, following the enactment of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919. During World War II, she engaged with organizations supporting the Free French forces in Britain, including founding the French in Great Britain Fund in 1940. For her efforts, she was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honour in June 1946, the highest French order of merit, and also received the Imperial Order of the Crown of India.

She also received various honors, including the Legion of Honour from France and the Imperial Order of the Crown of India from the British Empire. After her retirement from public life, she and her husband bought West Horsley Place, located in Sussex.

Lady Margaret Crewe-Milnes died on 13 March 1967 at her home on 50 Charles Street in Westminster, London. She was buried beside her husband, the Marquess of Crewe, at Barthomley, Cheshire.