Catherine Jones

Lady Catherine Jones (1672 – 14 April 1740) was an English philanthropist, interested in women's rights and education, and chose to be buried with her long-time friend, Mary Kendall (8 November 1677 – 4 March 1710), inside Westminster Abbey. Biography Lady Catherine Jones was the daughter of Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh, and Elizabeth (d. 1695), daughter of Francis Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham. Her sister, Elizabeth, married John FitzGerald, 18th Earl of Kildare. Her twin sister Frances (1672–1715) married Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby. Her brothers, Edward (1675–1678) and Arthur, died young. Her own grandmother, Katherine Jones, Viscountess Ranelagh, was a female scientist, a political and religious philosopher, and a member of many intellectual circles including the Hartlib Circle, the Great Tew Circle, and the Invisible College. In 1695 John Norris, philosopher, dedicated Letters Concerning the Love of God to Lady Catherine; the letters were exchanged between Norris and Mary Astell. At the death of her father in 1711, Lady Catherine inherited Ranelagh House, built by her father adjoining the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Twenty years later she let it to two builders who re-let it to James Lacy, who with David Garrick managed the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. In 1741, after the death of Lady Catherine, Ranelagh House was sold to Crispe and Meyomet, who erected a rotunda in its place.