Person Gardiner; Lady; Marguerite (1789-1849); Countess of Blessington; Novelist and writer DS/UK/4379 Gardiner Marguerite Lady 1789-1849 Novelist and writer Female Born Margaret Power, in 1804 she was forcibly married at 15 to Captain Maurice St Leger Farmer (d 1817). The marriage was an unhappy one and the couple parted ways after only 3 months. In 1818 she married Charles John Gardiner, 1st Earl of Blessington. With Lord Blessington she travelled on the continent, meeting Byron amongst others. The Earl died in 1829, after which Lady Blessington supplemented her income with her writing. Yes DERBYSHIRE\71010800 09/05/2023 DERBYSHIRE\71010800 09/05/2023 f7481f04-e8a1-476f-9f20-b7e47fb6a59c