Charlotte Howe, Viscountess Howe

(Mary Sophia) Charlotte Howe, Viscountess Howe (23 September 1703 – 13 June 1782), was a Hanover-born British courtier and politician.

Charlotte Howe, Viscountess Howe, in 1719 (attributed to Enoch Seeman).

Born Baroness Sophia Charlotte Mary^[a] von Kielmansegg (probably in Hanover), she was the eldest daughter of the Baron and Baroness von Kielmansegg (later Countess of Leinster and Darlington). The Baroness was a half-sister of George Louis, Elector of Hanover (the future George I of Great Britain).

It was popularly rumoured that the countess and her half-brother were lovers, and that her children were in fact his illegitimate offspring.^[1] When the elector became King of Great Britain in 1714, the von Kielmansegg family followed him to London.

On 8 August 1719, Charlotte married Emanuel Howe, 2nd Viscount Howe. The king gave the couple £750 per annum, which was later raised to £1250. The couple had ten children, including Hon. George Augustus Howe, Hon. Richard Howe and Hon. William Howe (successively Viscounts Howe). Charlotte was naturalised as a British citizen by Act of Parliament in 1722.^[2]

Lady Howe died in 1782 at her home in Albemarle Street and was buried at Langar.

Notes

1. The order of her baptismal names were later changed after her marriage.