Bess of Hardwick (1527?-1608) was the popular name of Elizabeth Hardwick, who became one of the wealthiest women in England by outliving four husbands and inheriting most of their estates. She married her fourth husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury, in 1568 and became Countess of Shrewsbury. In 1569, Queen Elizabeth I put Mary, Queen of Scots, into the earl’s custody. Bess took advantage of this connection to marry one of her daughters to Charles Stuart, the younger brother of Mary’s dead husband, Lord Darnley. Queen Elizabeth was furious and imprisoned Bess for several months.
Bess was probably born in the 1520’s. She built many great houses. The best-known surviving example is Hardwick Hall, in Derbyshire, England. Bess died on Feb. 13, 1608.
