Theresa Parker

Theresa Parker, née Robinson, was born on 1 January 1745 in Vienna. Her father was Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham, and her mother was Frances Worsley. Her birth took place during her father's diplomatic service in Vienna, where her father served as the British ambassador. The empress Maria Theresa was her godmother, which influenced her given name.

In 1764, Theresa’s father married Frances Hort. Theresa Parker married John Parker, 1st Baron Boringdon, in 1769. At the time of their marriage, her husband had recently succeeded his father, although he did not formally become Baron Boringdon until 1784. Theresa and John Parker had two children: a son, John Parker, who later became the 1st Earl of Morley, and a daughter, Theresa Parker.

Theresa Parker died at the age of 30 on 21 December 1775. Her death followed complications from a miscarriage she suffered in September 1775, which was associated with a fever. Her obituary was penned by the painter Joshua Reynolds.

Throughout her life, Theresa Parker was known as an art patron and designer. She was involved in the decoration and interior design of Saltram House, a prominent estate in South West England. She, along with her sister Alice and her brothers Frederick and Thomas, contributed to the design and embellishment of the estate. Her siblings provided advice through correspondence, and her efforts contributed to Saltram's reputation as a notable example of 18th-century architecture and decoration.

Theresa Parker was a collector of artworks, owning ten portraits by Joshua Reynolds, who was also her friend. Reynolds spent two years attempting to complete a profile portrait of her. She commissioned Robert Adam in 1768 to design parts of Saltram House, including the saloon and the library, now functioning as the dining room. Adam's contributions included architectural elements, door handles, and plasterwork ceilings. Furniture was crafted by Thomas Chippendale, and Matthew Boulton supplied four candelabras. The expenditure on the saloon alone amounted to approximately £10,000.

She was also involved in garden and landscape design, directing the layout of the estate's gardens and commissioning the construction of various buildings, such as an orangery and a summerhouse known as the Castle. The summerhouse was designed in 1771 by her brother, Thomas Robinson, 2nd Baron Grantham. Theresa also purchased ceramics, including examples of Wedgewood, and had a particular interest in decorative arts.

In addition to her personal collection, Theresa Parker acquired paintings by notable artists such as Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg, George Stubbs, Angelica Kauffman, and Antonio Zucchi. Zucchi was commissioned to paint ceilings in her estate.

Theresa Parker married John Parker, who had initially married Frances Hort in 1764, and later married Theresa in 1769. Their marriage produced two children: John Parker, who became the 1st Earl of Morley and Viscount Boringdon, and Theresa Parker, who married George Villiers, the youngest son of Thomas Villiers, 1st Earl of Clarendon. Theresa Parker passed away in December 1775, and her legacy includes her contributions to the arts, design, and her estate, as well as her family connections.