Constance Stewart-Richardson

Constance Stewart-Richardson (1883–1932) was a British dancer and author.

Biography

She was a daughter of the Honorable Francis Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Cromartie (1852–1893) and sister of Sibell Lilian Blunt-Mackenzie, 3rd Countess of Cromartie (1878–1962). In 1904, Constance married Sir Edward Austin Stewart-Richardson, 15th Baronet (1872–1914) and bore him two sons. She lived in Pitfour Castle in Perthshire.

In 1910 her semi-clad dancing for the 'shilling seats' of theatres incurred the displeasure of Edward VII who considered it unsuitable behaviour for a noblewoman and she was barred from Court – which constituted social death.

In 1913 she danced in Judith in Vienna.

In 1913 she published Dancing, Beauty, and Games.

In September 1913 she arrived in New York to accompany the French actress Polaire on her American tour.

Her husband, an officer in the Black Watch, was killed in 1914 (battle 1st Ypres). She went on to marry(1921 London) Mr Dennis Leckie Matthew, an ex-guards officer who had spent several years in Chile pre-1914 observing German activities in South America for the British Government. He acted as a Kings Messenger and they had a daughter Anita who was brought up (when both parents died in the early '30's)

by her Scottish half-family.

Publications

• Dancing, beauty, and games. London: Humphreys. 1913.