Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville, Countess of Warwick [1] (10 December 1861–26 July 1938) was a society beauty and courtesan, and a mistress to King Edward VII. [2] December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... A courtesan is a person paid and/or supported for the giving of social companionship and intimate liaisons to one or more partners. ... Edward VII (Albert Edward) (9 November 1841–6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India. ...

Royal marriage, affairs

Born Frances Evelyn Maynard, she was the daughter of The Hon. Charles Maynard, the eldest son and heir of Henry Maynard, 3rd Viscount Maynard, whose estates she inherited in 1865, her father having died earlier. At one stage she was considered as a possible wife for Prince Leopold (later Duke of Albany), a younger son of Queen Victoria. 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... His Royal Highness The Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (Leopold George Duncan Albert) (7 April 1853 - 28 March 1884), was a member of the British Royal Family, a son of Queen Victoria. ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was the eminent Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June, 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January, 1877, until her death in 1901. ...

Instead, she married Francis Greville, Lord Brooke, the eldest son and heir of George Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick, in 1881. He succeeded to the Earldom in 1893, and they moved into Warwick Castle. They were members of the Marlborough House Set, headed by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... An Earl or Jarl was an Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian title, meaning chieftain and it referred especially to chieftains set to rule a territory in a kings stead. ... 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Warwick Castle in the 19th century. ... Edward VII (Albert Edward) (9 November 1841–6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India. ...

Following her marriage, she became a socialite, often attending lavish parties and gatherings. She became involved in affairs occassionally with several powerful men, most notably Edward VII. It was not uncommon in the Victorian era for married women of social prominence to become romantically involved with a man higher on the social ladder than her husband. This was often with the husband's knowledge, as it could also assist in his advancing socially or politically, and was considered normal for the times. Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Accession to the Throne, 20 June 1837) gave her name to the historic era The Victorian era of Great Britain is considered the height of the British industrial revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ...

Although she was involved in affairs with both men, Lady Warwick's affair with Edward VII is thought to have been mainly a cover for her actual heart-felt relationship with Lord Charles Beresford (later 1st Baron Beresford), for whom she actually had genuine feelings. Being a mistress to Edward VII would not raise eyebrows, nor cause problems, since no one would question him or cause her any grief over the affair, even her husband. However, this was without the knowledge of Edward VII, and when he discovered that she also was involved with Lord Beresford, Edward VII tried to recover an alleged compromising letter that Lady Brooke (Daisy Greville) had written to Beresford, and which was supposedly in the hands of the Lord Beresford's wife, Lady Beresford. The quarrel lasted until Prime Minister Lord Salisbury interfered and both parties reached an agreement. Nevertheless, the relations between Edward VII and Lord Beresford remained weak for the remainder of their lives. [3] Caricature from Punch, 1882 The Right Honourable Charles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford GCB GCVO (February 10, 1846–September 6, 1919), known as Lord Charles Beresford until 1916, was a British Admiral and Member of Parliament. ...

Her main flaw when acting as a courtesan for powerful men was that she rarely kept her affairs private, and when involved with a man of wealth and power, she had a distinct habit of devulging it to others. For her indiscretions and this habit, she earned the nickname "The Babbling Brooke", and she was the inspiration for the popular music hall song "Daisy, Daisy".

Life aside from courtesan

Lady Warwick founded a needlework school at Easton in Essex and Studley Agricultural College for Women. She dabbled with socialism and hosted meetings of trade unionists at Easton Lodge, which she retained as a private residence after moving to Warwick Castle. She created lavish gardens at Easton Lodge, and also kept a small private zoo. Studley College was a horticultural and agricultural college for women, founded by Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

During the 1890s, Lady Warwick became acquainted with the novelist Elinor Glyn, whom she introduced into British society. The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the Mauve Decade, because William Henry Perkins aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion, and also as the Gay Nineties, under the then-current usage of the word gay which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, with no... Elinor Glyn (October 17, 1864 - September 23, 1943), born Nellie Sutherland in Jersey, was the author of It, Three Weeks, Beyond the Rocks, and other novels in a similarly softcore vein. ...