by Scott Mehl

Julia Abercromby, Baroness Abercromby

Julia Abercromby, Baroness Abercromby was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, and a noted artist. She was born The Hon. Julia Janet Georgiana Haldane-Duncan on January 24, 1840 in Naples, the eldest child of Adam Haldane-Duncan, Viscount Duncan (later 2nd Earl of Camperdown) and Juliana Cavendish Philips. Julia had two younger brothers:

At Camperdown House in Dundee, Scotland, Julia married George Abercromby, 4th Baron Abercromby on October 6, 1858. He was the son of George Abercromby, 3rd Baron Abercromby and Louisa Forbes. The couple had no children.

In April 1874, Julia was appointed a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, and served until March 1885. She was an accomplished painter, and had taken lessons from Mrs. Clarendon Smith of the Institute of Watercolours. During her service, Julia was asked to paint the first official portrait of Queen Victoria for the National Portrait Gallery, fulfilling a request made by the gallery in 1867. She painted a watercolor portrait, based on an original painting by von Angeli. It was reported to be one of Queen Victoria’s favorite portraits of herself. In later years, she exhibited some of her work at the Royal Academy in 1898. Today, her paintings are included in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, Balliol College, Oxford and the Britannia Royal Naval College. Lady Abercromby died at Camperdown House on December 8, 1915.

Recommended Book – Serving Queen Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard

Support Unofficial Royalty by using this link for all your Amazon purchases! Amazon.com