HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDS & FACTS:
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Charles Bartholomew Sackville-Bass, b.1772
* 5th Duke of Dorset since 1794
* 2nd Viscount Sackville since 1793
* Running for Privy Councilor and Master of the Horse in the Parliament
* Family seat Knole House, Sevenoaks, West Kent
- 1788-1791 Oxford University
- 1791 Goes traveling
- 1792 Joins his friend Nathaniel, they travel to the colonies: Accompanied Sir John Shore (Governor–General) to the Fort of William (Bengal)
- 1793 Inherits Viscountcy from his uncle John (Jack), who is executed in France
- 1793 Returns home, reconciles with his father
- 1794 Bartholomew dies
- 1794-97 Rarely visits the family estate; takes over his father's dealings at the Parliament, running for Master of the Horse
- 1796 spring Short affair with Lady Russell
- 1797 July Meets Lady Blair Waldorf
- 1797 late July Returns to Knole House
Blair Cornelia (Lyttelton) Waldorf, b. 1778
* Inherits her Scottish name Blair due her mother's origins, Cornelia is a family name from her father's side, and Waldorf is her German ancestors' surname
* Grandparents: Vizegraf of Windsheim and Lady Cornelia Lyttelton
* Parents: 8th Viscount Cobham Harold William Lyttelton-Waldorf, Vizegraf of Windsheim and Eleanor Donetta Lady Polwarth
* Family estate Cobham Hall, Cobham village, Kent
- 1778-1792 grows up in Cobham village together with the Levinson brothers
- 1792 Harold's affair is exposed to his wife
- 1792-94 Blair is sent off to attend school with her friend Serena
- 1794 Returns to Cobham, reunites with Anthony and Dan
- 1795 January Harold Waldorf dies of syphilis
- 1795 March Blair is sent off to Rome with Dorota
- 1795-96 Rome
- 1797 March–July London Season
- 1797 July Meets Charles Sackville–Bass, Duke of Dorset, Viscount Sackville
- 1797 late July Returns to Cobham Hall
Anthony and Daniel Levinson
* Sons of Sir Joseph and Patricia Levinson
* b.1770 Sir Anthony Levinson
* b.1773 Daniel Levinson (jurisprudence)
* Cuxton village, Whorne's place, Kent
- 1786-89 Anthony at Cambridge University
- 1789 Sir Joseph dies, Anthony takes over the title
- 1789-92 Daniel at Cambridge
- 1792-93 Daniel's Law practice in London
- 1794 Daniel returns to Whorne's place
- 1794 Dan falls in love with Serena
- 1795 January Anthony morally supports the Waldorfs after Harold's death
- 1795 June Their mother passes away
- 1795 July –1797 June Anthony leaves for America
- 1795 Daniel takes over the household of Whorne's place
- 1797 June Anthony returns home to England
- 1797 August Daniel and Serena's wedding
Serena Celia van der Woodsen, b. 1777
* Honorable Miss, Dutch descent
*Family immigrated to England one generation ago
*Luddesdown village, manor near the church
- Grows up with Blair, Dan, Eric and Anthony
- 1792-94 Attends school with Blair
- 1794 Serena and Dan fall in love
- 1797 August marries Dan
Eric William van der Woodsen b. 1779
- 1795-98 Attends London University, studies history
- 1797 late July Returns home for his sister's wedding
- 1797 Befriends Charles Sackville–Bass, Duke of Dorset
- 1797 August leaves for London
Nathaniel Fitzwilliam Braybrook, b. 1772
* 2nd son of 4th Baron Howard de Walden
* Family residence Audley End House, Essex
- 1788–1791 Oxford University
- 1791 Serves in the Royal navy
- 1792 Promoted to Captain, goes to India with Charles
- 1797 August Nathaniel returns after Sir John retires from his post
Locations:
Kent:
Town of Sevenoaks, Knole House permanent residence of the Sackville family
+ 9 miles ≈ 18km north
Cobham Village, Cobham Hall permanent residence of Viscount Cobham
+ 2 miles ≈ 4km south-east
Cuxton Village, Whorne's place by River Medway
+ 2 miles ≈ 4km north-west
Luddesdown parish, local manor
Dover, Dover Castle
Maidstone + 35miles South
Fact:
Morganatic mariage does not exist in English law, and the British royal family and British aristocracy, while traditionally concerned with rank, often adopted a far more flexible attitude than their counterparts in many Continental European countries. [Source: W i k i p e d i a]
