About Hester Stanhope
Lady Hester Lucy Stanhope was a British adventurer, writer, antiquarian, and one of the most famous travellers of her age. Her excavation of Ascalon in 1815 is considered the first to use modern archaeological principles, and her use of a medieval Italian document is described as "one of the earliest uses of textual sources by field archaeologists". Her letters and memoirs made her famous as an explorer. Lady Hester sat at the head of his table and assisted in welcoming his guests; she became known for her beauty and conversational skills. Britain awarded her an annual pension of £1200 after Pitt's death in January 1806.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.