Lady Jean Alice Elaine Cochrane (later Hervey, then Macdonald; 27 November 1887 – 5 January 1955) was a British aristocrat. She was the daughter of Winifred, Countess of Dundonald and Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald.Hampshire Advertiser - Wednesday 30 November 1887 - Page 2 [Article title; Births]Portsmouth Evening News - Thursday 06 January 1955 - Page 16 Death of Lady Jean Macdonald
Work and duties Cochrane was a famous figure in her time. In her youth, she modelled for prominent publications and appeared in The Bystander,The Bystander - Wednesday 20 October 1909 Tatler,The Tatler - Wednesday 02 August 1916https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001852/19061107/011/0009 - The Tatler - Wednesday 07 November 1906 Country Life,Country Life Magazine 12 April 1919 and The Sketch.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001860/19180206/001/0001 - The Sketch - Wednesday 06 February 1918
During the First World War, In 1916, she became a nurse who treated war casualties at the Red cross hospital at Portman Square, London.The Boston Post - Sep 2 1917Daily Mirror - Thursday 19 October 1916
In 1917, she was within Diplomatic services and was serving within the Foreign office at Whitehall, London.Daily Mirror - Thursday 08 November 1917 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19171108/041/0004
She helped support the Society for Waifs and Strays by opening several fundraisers for the cause. a society which directly improves the lives of children and young people for whom it provides services and to create a positive shift in social attitudes to improve the situation facing all children and young people.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002065/19040917/108/0008 - Denbighshire Free Press - Saturday 17 September 1904 [page 8]https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3835315/3835322 - The Welsh Coast Pioneer 22 August 1907 [Page 7]
On 14 July 1937 she launched the Royal Navy warship HMS Enchantress.
Personal life Lady Jean was the fourth child to Winifred and Douglas Cochrane. She spent most of her youth at Gwrych Castle.Dundee Evening Telegraph - Monday 06 February 1933 (Page 7)The Sketch - Wednesday 06 February 1918 (Cover page)
She was a keen sportswoman who was particularly fond of golf.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001852/19141104/019/0017 - The Tatler - Wednesday 04 November 1914 [Page 17]
On 19 October 1914, she married Lord Herbert Hervey with whom she had a son, Victor Hervey, 6th Marquess of Bristol; his godmother was the Spanish Queen Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg.Daily Mirror - Thursday 10 May 1917 [Page 10]
In 1932, after Lady Jean discovered that her husband was having an affair at their Portman Square apartment, she filed for divorce on grounds of adultery and in July of that same year the divorce was granted without Herbert contesting. The Portsmouth Evening News's divorce section stated that "Lady Jean complained of her husband's association with other women shortly after they were married, and differences arose".Portsmouth Evening News - Friday 29 July 1932 - page 12
In December 1933, Cochrane remarried at a London register office to a Captain Peter Macdonald.Liverpool Echo - Thursday 14 December 1933 - Page 9 Macdonald, later knighted, was a Conservative politician for the Isle of Wight. Jean assisted him in his work.
In the late evening on Monday, January 5, 1955, Lady Jean suffered a heart attack while being treated at Kilmarnock Infirmary for bronchitis. A telegram was sent to her husband in London informing him of her condition; upon receiving it he travelled to Scotland to see her. However, a storm prevented him from reaching her in time. She died at the age of 67.Portsmouth Evening News - Thursday 06 January 1955
Her funeral was held at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge on 10 January and she was later cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.Coventry Evening Telegraph, Thursday 06 January 1955 - www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19550106/346/0026The Scotsman - Friday 07 January 1955
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