Born this day 1739 in Kilkenny Castle, Ireland,
Eleanor Charlotte Butler, who with her friend Sarah Ponsonby, became known as the Ladies of Llangollen, two upper-class women from Ireland, whose relationship scandalised and fascinated their contemporaries. They were described as "the two most celebrated virgins in Europe".
Rather than face the possibility of being forced into unwanted marriages, they left Ireland for Llangollen in 1778. Although the ladies wanted to live a quiet life, reading, writing, drawing and gardening, it was a sensation in the 18th century for unmarried ladies to live together independently and they became celebrities. They would often entertain up to 20 visitors per day.
However, because of their aristocratic backgrounds they insisted on maintaining a household that consisted of a footman, a gardener and maids, which incurred them considerable debts and led to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, persuading her husband to grant them a pension.
Their home, Plas Newydd, is now a museum and a major tourist attraction.
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