Hyacinthe-Gabrielle Roland

Roland was the legal daughter of Pierre Roland (or Rolland), a Paris-based merchant or banker, and Hyacinthe-Gabrielle Varis, an actress or milliner.[2] The University of Southampton, which houses the Wellesley family papers, estimates Roland's birth year to be 1760.[3] Cockayne's The Complete Peerage and Burke's Peerage estimate her birth year to be between 1766 and 1771 in editions published after her death.[4][5]

There were rumors Roland's biological father was Christopher Alexander Fagan, and she was later adopted by Pierre Roland.[6][7] The 1976 edition of Burke's Irish Family Records listed Roland as a natural born daughter of Varis and Fagan.[8] Fagan family biographers have speculated Roland either lived in Ireland for several years prior to returning to France, or she was raised in Ireland by the Fagan family before joining her mother in France. Both claims are unproven.

Richard Wellesley, the son of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington, met Roland at the Palais Royal where she was an actress where she was known as Gabrielle Fagan. She spoke no English at the time; however she and Wellesley lived together for some years without marrying. In 1781, Richard Wellesley succeeded as 2nd Earl of Mornington. He and Roland married on 29 November 1794 at St George's, Hanover Square, London.[4] Prior to their marriage, they had three sons and two daughters who were then legitimated:

• Richard Wellesley (1787–1831), a Member of Parliament
• Anne Wellesley (1788–1875), married firstly Sir William Abdy, 7th Baronet, and secondly Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Charles Bentinck. Great-great grandmother to Elizabeth II.
• Hyacinthe Mary Wellesley (1789–1849), married Edward Littleton, 1st Baron Hatherton
• Gerald Wellesley (1792–1833), served as the East India Company's resident at Indore.[9]
• Rev. Henry Wellesley (1794–1866), Principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford.[10]

Upon her marriage, Roland became the Countess of Mornington, but remained a social outcast. In 1799, her husband was created the 1st Marquess Wellesley, making Roland a courtesy marchioness. However, this elevation did not change her social standing. Even the famously casual Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne refused to call on Roland, and scolded her daughter-in-law, Lady Caroline Lamb, severely for doing so, writing of Caroline's friendship with Roland: "you are the only woman with any pretensions to character who ever courted Lady Wellesley's acquaintance."[11]

Memorial at St. Michael's Church, Penkridge.

In the course of their marriage, Wellesley had at least two illegitimate children by another mistress, Elizabeth Johnston. In 1797, when Wellesley was obliged to travel to India in his capacity as Governor General, Roland did not accompany him, although he tried repeatedly to persuade her.[12] There is some evidence that she was already seeking a legal settlement for divorce prior to Wellesley's departure.[13]

By 1801, Roland's letters detailed accusations of her husband's infidelity with another Frenchwoman, known only as Madame de Cocrement, and of neglect of his family.[14] Upon Wellesley's return to Britain, he purchased Apsley House as a family home, but the he and Roland were again estranged and Wellesley took another mistress. They formally separated in 1810, and Roland moved to Apsley House. She lived for a time in Grosvenor Square, and then in Great Cumberland Place.[14]

She died on 5 November 1816 at Teddesley Hall, Staffordshire, a house belonging Edward Littleton, MP. The husband to her daughter Hyacinthe-Marie.[1][15] She was laid to rest at St. Michael's Church in Penkridge where the Wellesley family had a memorial posted.