At the end of her life, one of the most coveted women of the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries, addicted to drinking, died, hiding from multimillion-dollar debts. Her image has inspired writers, filmmakers and artists. For some, she was a dissolute kept woman, for others, an angel.
So who really was Emma Hamilton?
Birth name Amy Lyon, born in Cheshire, was brought up in the house of her grandparents, as her father died very early, and her mother had to work hard. According to other sources, Mary (Emma's mother) gave birth to a girl from her lover.
Emma grew up in miserable poverty, which is now difficult to imagine. Already at the age of 6, the girl traded in coal, like her mother Mary. And by the age of 12, she was already working as a nanny. Naturally, with such a youth, the girl dreamed of a rich and idle life.
At the age of 15, Emma decides to try her luck in London. She has nothing: no manners, no education, but her cheerful disposition and a certain talent allows her to get a job as an actress in Drury Droy. Working for a pitiful penny, she fails to improve her financial situation.
The Temple of Health by James Graham
Thanks to her stunning appearance: a pretty face, long hair, a stout figure, the girl has her first connections and fans. Healer James Graham invites her to his "Temple of Health". Emma had to demonstrate her perfect, naked body, covering her face with a veil. She is noticed by the artist Romney, and she becomes his pose.
At the age of 16, Emma became pregnant by her lover Harry Featherstone, in whose house she lived on maintenance. But such a person did not need a child from his mistress, and he drove her out into the street. Emma safely gave birth to a daughter and gave her up for adoption.
Emma returns to London under the tutelage of Charles Greville, who pays her an extremely small allowance. But the girl is happy about that too.
She even began to study various sciences, until the moment when her lover hung in debt. Not knowing how he should be, Charles “gave” Emma, which was boring and costly to him, to a relative, General Hamilton, in exchange for writing off debts and inheritance.
The general was not very young, but wealthy, he fell madly in love with the beauty of Emma, seeing her in one of the paintings.
Emma went to Naples, where she was assigned to the court and became the favorite of society. And on September 6, 1791 …
She married a general
It seems she was the image of a fabulous Cinderella, if not …
It is not known exactly, but it seems that the general was not against this alliance.
Emma became pregnant with Nelson and they settled in London. However, the admiral was killed, and despite the fact that he asked the government to take care of his beloved, Emma was left without a livelihood, having also spent everything that she inherited from General Hamilton.
