Roberte Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough

The Right Honourable The Countess of Bessborough GCStJ JP
The Earl and Countess of Bessborough, 1933
Born	1892
Died	1979 (aged 86–87)
Spouse	Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough
Children	4, including Frederick and Moyra

Roberte Poupart de Neuflize Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough GCStJ JP (1892–1979), was a French noblewoman, the daughter of Baron Jean Poupart de Neuflize, CVO.

Marriage

On 25 June 1912, she married Vere Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon (27 October 1880 – 10 March 1956), son of Edward Ponsonby, 8th Earl of Bessborough, and Blanche Vere Guest; she held the courtesy title of Viscountess Duncannon. Her husband inherited the title of Earl of Bessborough upon the death of his father on 1 December 1920, whereupon Roberte became the Countess of Bessborough.

Family

She and her husband had three sons and a daughter. They were predeceased by two of their sons.

• Frederick Edward Neuflize Ponsonby, 10th Earl of Bessborough (29 March 1913 – 5 December 1993)
• Hon. Desmond Neuflize Ponsonby (4 August 1915 – 8 April 1925)
• Moyra Blanche Madeleine Ponsonby Browne, DBE (2 March 1918 – 4 December 2016)
• Lt. Hon. George St Lawrence Neuflize Ponsonby (14 August 1931 – 16 May 1951)

Honours

She was invested as a Dame Grand Cross, Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (GC.St.J). She was decorated with the Chevalier, Legion of Honour. She held the office of Justice of the Peace for West Sussex between 1943 and 1956.

References

• Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd., 2003), volume 1, page 363.