Wilhelmina FitzClarence

Wilhelmina FitzClarence, Countess of Munster (née Kennedy-Erskine), was born on 27 June 1830 at the House of Dun, Montrose, Scotland. She was the second child of the Honorable John Kennedy-Erskine and Lady Augusta FitzClarence, who was an illegitimate daughter of William IV of the United Kingdom. Her father was a captain with the 16th Lancers and an equerry to King William. He died in 1831 at the age of 28. Her paternal grandmother, Anne Watts, was descended from prominent North American colonial families, including the Schuyler, Van Cortlandt, and Delancey families.

During her childhood, Mina resided with her mother and two siblings in Railshead, a residence on the River Thames. King William IV was known to visit the family frequently and maintained a favorable relationship with Mina. She experienced a near-fatal illness of the brain fever as a young child, which King William reportedly visited to offer comfort. Following her father’s death, Lady Augusta married Lord Frederick Gordon-Hallyburton in 1836. This marriage caused the family to leave Railshead; subsequently, Lady Augusta became State Housekeeper at Kensington Palace in 1837, following the death of her sister, Lady De L'Isle.

In her youth, Mina and her sister Millicent developed an interest in music, with a particular fondness for Italian soprano Marietta Alboni. An attempt to meet Alboni was arranged, but it was unsuccessful as the singer thought the sisters were not of noble rank. Between 1847 and 1849, Mina traveled throughout Europe with her family, initially to Dresden to learn German, then to Paris, where they resided near the Arc de Triomphe for two years. While in Paris, they were received by the French royal family headed by Louis Philippe I. Their stay ended after the fall of the monarchy, which made the city unsafe. Later in 1850, they visited the court of Hanover and were received by King Ernest Augustus. That same year, Mina and her sister entered society.

On 17 April 1855, Mina married her first cousin William FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of Munster, at Wemyss Castle. Their marriage was a double wedding; her sister Millicent married James Hay Erskine Wemyss on the same occasion. William FitzClarence was also a grandchild of William IV. The couple traveled to Hamburg immediately after their wedding, visiting local castles and the family of Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. They had nine children, four of whom survived their mother:

- Edward, Viscount FitzClarence (1856–1870)

- Hon. Lionel Frederick Archibald (1857–1863)

- Geoffrey FitzClarence, 3rd Earl of Munster (1859–1902)

- Hon. Arthur Falkland Manners (1860–1861)

- Aubrey FitzClarence, 4th Earl of Munster (1862–1928)

- Hon. William George (1864–1899)

- Hon. Harold Edward (1870–1926)

- Lady Lillian Adelaide Katherine Mary (1873–1948)

- Lady Dorothea Augusta (1876–1942)

The family resided at Palmeira Square, Brighton. Reports from contemporaneous sources indicate that Lady Munster led a relatively private life, appreciating literary and artistic pursuits. Her husband's health decline led to her retirement from public view, and she was described as living in seclusion from around 1897.

In her later years, she pursued a career as a novelist and storyteller under the title the Countess of Munster. Her published works include her debut novel *Dorinda* (1889), which was well-received by figures such as Oscar Wilde, who praised her vivid character descriptions and social insight. Her second novel, *A Scotch Earl* (1891), drew criticism for its tone and style. In 1896, she published *Ghostly Tales*, a collection of supernatural stories inspired by accounts of hauntings; the collection was noted for its atmospheric storytelling, though modern assessments consider her stories to be somewhat conventional. Additionally, Lady Munster authored an autobiography, *My Memories and Miscellanies*, in 1904, reflecting on her life experiences, including supernatural sightings at Wemyss Castle. She died on 9 October 1906, at the age of 76, having been widowed since 1901.