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Martha Whyte, Countess of Elgin and Kincardine

Martha Whyte, the only child of London banker Thomas Whyte, married Charles Bruce, 5th Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, on June 1, 1755, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Together, they had eight children, several of whom became influential figures in Britain’s military and political circles during the 18th and 19th centuries. Their descendants and contributions are detailed elsewhere on this website.

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The Portrait of Countess Elgin

The portrait of Countess Elgin, painted in 1762 by Allan Ramsay, is one of her most enduring legacies. Ramsay, a celebrated Scottish artist, also painted King George III in the same year, highlighting the Countess’s prominence within aristocratic society.

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Family Tragedies and Early Losses

Martha and Charles’s family life was marked by both privilege and sorrow. Their two eldest daughters, Martha and Janet, died in childhood at ages seven and six in 1767. Just a few years later, on May 14, 1771, Martha’s husband Charles Bruce passed away, leaving her a widow. Only two months later, their eldest son, the new 6th Earl of Elgin, died at age seven.

Of their remaining children, four survived into adulthood—one daughter and three sons. Sadly, Martha’s youngest son, James Bruce, drowned on July 10, 1798, at age 29 while attempting to cross the River Don in Yorkshire when his horse was swept away by the current.

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Royal Appointment: Guardian to Princess Charlotte of Wales

In 1799, King George III personally appointed Lady Elgin as gouvernante (guardian rather than governess) to Princess Charlotte of Wales, the heir presumptive to the British throne. Historical records describe Lady Elgin and the young Princess as sharing a close and affectionate relationship. They resided together at Warwick House in London’s St. James’s district, accompanied only by household servants.

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Princess Charlotte’s Complicated Family Life

Princess Charlotte of Wales was the only child of George, Prince of Wales (later King George IV) and Caroline of Brunswick (later Queen Caroline). Their marriage, arranged under political pressure from Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, was deeply unhappy from the start. The couple separated soon after their wedding, living under the same roof at Carlton House, but largely apart.

When Princess Charlotte was born—just one day shy of nine months after the marriage—her father was disappointed she was not a boy. King George III, however, was overjoyed, delighted both by the arrival of a legitimate grandchild and by the birth of a girl, whom he hoped would help reconcile the estranged couple. Unfortunately, this hope was never realized.

The Prince of Wales largely left Charlotte’s upbringing to governesses and servants, allowing her only limited contact with her mother. Princess Caroline later left England entirely. In contrast, Lady Elgin brought warmth and stability to Charlotte’s life, forming a lasting bond with the young princess—a friendship well documented in royal correspondence.

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Dismissal and Later Years

After five years of service, in 1804, Lady Elgin was dismissed from her position. Officially, her age—then 65—was cited as the reason. However, historical accounts suggest that the Prince of Wales was angered when she took Princess Charlotte to visit her beloved grandfather, King George III, without his permission.

Heartbroken by her dismissal, Martha Whyte, Countess of Elgin, withdrew from public life and passed away in 1810 at the age of 70.

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Legacy and Remembrance

When Princess Charlotte herself died in 1818 following childbirth, contemporary tributes fondly remembered her former guardian, describing Lady Elgin as “a very worthy and pious Countess who acted for some years as gouvernante.” Her devotion to the Princess and her integrity within royal circles cemented her place as a respected figure in British aristocratic history.