A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Kent, Duchess of
KENT, DUCHESS OF
Is the sixth child and youngest daughter of Francis, Duke of Saxe Saalfield Cobourg, and was born August 17th., 1786. She was married to Enrich Charles, hereditary Prince of Leiningen, Her husband died in 1814, leaving her with two children, the Prince of Leiningen and the Princess Anna Feodoronna. She was then called to the regency, and her administration was popular and respected. In 1818, she married the Duke of Kent, son of George the Third, and on the 24th of May, 1819, her only child by his marriage, Victoria, Queen of England, was born in Kensington Palace.
The birth of this daughter was soon followed by the death of the Duke of Kent; and Great Britain is deeply indebted to the Duchess of Kent for the exceeding care she bestowed in training her illustrious daughter, so that she might be worthy to sway the sceptre of this great empire. But her royal father lived only eight months after her birth, and the bereaved widow was left to endure a thousand anxieties as well as sorrows. Her babe was delicate in constitution, and the means for educating her as the heir expectant of the most powerful monarchy in the world were inadequately and grudgingly supplied. None but a soul of the highest order could have successfully struggled with the difficulties which beset the course of the Duchess of Kent. She was equal to her task, fortunately for humanity; the whole world is made better from having on the throne of Great Britain a sovereign who is firm in duty. The sketch of Queen Victoria will be found in its place—we will only add here, that, for the right formation of her character, which makes duty a sacred principle in her conduct, she must have been indebted, in a great measure, to her early training. Let any mother, who has endeavoured to train her own daughter to perform the duties which, in private life, and in a small circle, devolye on woman, consider what conscientious care it has required; what sacrifices of self; what daily examples as well as precepts in the right way; and then she may, partly, estimate the merits of the mother of such a woman as Victoria the First. How excellent must have been the character that could acquire the authority and influence necessary to direct well and wisely the education of a young Princess! This was done, too, amidst serious obstacles and many discouragements, and therefore must the Duchess of Kent ever hold a noble rank among women worthily distinguished; she has performed great and important duties with such rare firmness, faithfulness, and success, as makes her a model for mothers in every rank of life.