Miss Ralli
(1844-1922)
27 February 1861

Volume 2, page 239, sitting number 2245. 

[The sitter is identified only as ‘Miss Ralli’ in the Silvy daybooks. Given the naming conventions that prevailed amongst the upper classes in the 19th century — only the eldest unmarried girl in a family was entitled to style herself as ‘Miss’ with no further identifying forename or initial — this is probably Polymnia Ralli, daughter of Antonio/Antonios Ralli. When this photograph was taken in February 1861, she was the eldest unmarried girl in this branch of the Ralli family.]

Polymnia Antonios Ralli was born in the City of London on 9 July 1844 and baptised on 23 July 1844 at the Chapel of Our Saviour in Finsbury Circus. Her mother was Minusca (‘Mina’) Tamvaco, daughter of Georges Tamvaco, who had married the merchant and banker Antonios/Antonio/Anthony Ralli in 1838 and would die in 1845, the year after Polymnia’s birth. 

When the census was taken in 1851, Polymnia was six years old and living with her family at 42 Finsbury Circus.

Ten years later she appears on the 1861 census, aged 15, identified as ‘Polymusa’ Ralli. She was living with her family at 102, Westbourne Terrace, Paddington. According to this census, she was born in London and her birth was registered at St Saviour’s, London Wall.

On 18 July 1863 at the Chapel of Our Saviour, London Wall, Polymnia Antonios Ralli married merchant Peter Pandia Scaramanga, son of Pandia Petros Scaramanga. The marriage produced six children. 

Peter Pandia Scaramanga died on 6 August 1907 on the Greek island of Corfu. 

Polymnia Ralli Scaramanga ‘of Corfu, Greece’ died on 7 October 1922. She left effects in England that were valued at £200.