Lady Airey and
Miss Katherine Margaret Airey
(1814-1881 and 1843-1896)
1 December 1861

Volume 2, page 104, sitting number 1716.

Born in 1814, the Honourable Harriet Mary Everard Talbot was the third daughter of James Talbot, 3rd Baron Talbot of Malahide. On 30 January 1838 she married her cousin Major Richard Airey of the 34th Regiment of Foot, later General Sir Richard Airey, 1st and last Baron Airey. During the Crimean War, he fought at Balaclava, Alma and Inkerman and was present at the siege of Sebastapol. He was Acting Quarter-Master-General of the forces in Crimea between 1854 and 1855. An attempt was subsequently made to throw the responsibility for the failure of the commisariat during the Crimean War on him but he demanded an official enquiry and was cleared of the charge. He was later Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar between 1867 and 1870. In 1876 he was created 1st Baron Airey of Killingworth in Northumberland.

Lady Airey died after a long and painful illness, aged 67, on 28 July 1881 at her residence in Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge; she was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. Her husband died two months later. He was ‘stricken with paralysis while staying with Sir Garnet and Lady Wolseley at Leatherhead. The distinguished and gallant general has lost the entire use of his right side, and is still lying at Sir Garnet Wolseley’s too ill to be removed’ (Aberdeen Evening Express, 24 August 1881).

Their only child was Katherine Margaret Airey, from 1876 entitled to use the prefix 'The Honourable' before her name. In 1865 she married Sir Geers Henry Cotterell, 3rd Baronet Cotterell of Garnons in Herefordshire. Their marriage produced at least three children. She died, aged 53, on 22 May 1896 at 8 Belgrave Square, London.