Brilliant Historical Women: Emma Hamilton (Part 2)

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]In 1781, Emma Hamilton seemed to have hit the mother lode when she met Sir Harry, the aristocratic owner of Up Park House and confirmed party boy. However, unfortunately for Emma, the fun didn't last for long.

[00:00:13]Hi, I'm Em. I'm a historian and I love brilliant historical women. We left Emma as she entered high society life as a kept mistress, but let's see what happened next.

[00:00:24]By the 1780s, despite boasting significant debts, Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh was extremely well connected. Close friends with the Prince of Wales, the future George the IV, he hosted regular outrageously elaborate [music] parties for the Prince and his friends. In 1781, Emma moved in at Up Park, enjoying her own suite of rooms and luxury she could have never previously imagined. She provided entertainment at Harry's soirées, rumored to have danced on the dining table to entertain the Prince Regent and other wealthy revelers.

[00:00:56]During this period, [music] Emma discovered how the other half lived, becoming proficient in country pursuits such as riding, and learned exactly how to get on with men of a certain class.

[00:01:06]Despite her popularity, Emma's time at Up Park was fleeting. When she became pregnant later that year, Sir Harry turned cold, turning her out of the house and refusing to respond to her letters.

[00:01:18]As might have been expected [music] for a young unmarried mother of the 18th century, Emma was presented with a decidedly grim future.

[00:01:26]Fortunately, during these lavish parties, [music] Emma had made some useful friends. Sir Charles Greville was a regular attendee at Up Park and she was aware he had harbored a soft spot for her.

[00:01:36]She begged him for help and not long after was installed as his mistress.

[00:01:41]Charles insisted that she was to have the baby and send it away, give up all of her friends and family, except her mother, and change [music] her now ruined name to Mrs. Emma Hart.

[00:01:51]After the birth of her daughter in 1782, she moved into Greville's London villa off the Edgware Road and Amy Lyon became a thing of the past.

[00:02:01]Barely a month later, Greville decided he wanted his beautiful mistress to have her portrait painted, and introduced [music] her to the most fashionable painter in Britain, George Romney. A decision that would change Emma's life forever.

[00:02:14]Romney was absolutely struck by Emma's beauty and theatricality, willing to take on a number of roles as a model [music] for him, and he went on to paint her again and again.

[00:02:24]In fact, he produced [music] over 60 pictures of Emma in a huge variety of characters, displaying them in his studio to the delight of his society visitors.

[00:02:32]Out of the ashes of her last relationship, [music] Emma became one of London's greatest models. However, now well and truly devoted to Greville, her heart would be broken yet again.

[00:02:44]And with that, come back soon for part three.