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{{short description|Irish courtesan}}
{{db-a7}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Laura Bell
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Laura Thistlethwayte (Richard Buckner).jpg
| image_size = <!-- Discouraged per WP:IMGSIZE; please use image_upright. -->
| alt =
| caption = portrait of Laura Thistlethwayte by ]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| pronunciation =
| birth_name = Laura Eliza Jane Seymour Bell<ref name="family">{{cite web |url= http://www.hidden-gems.eu/NIFHS%20Lisburn%20bell.pdf |title= Laura Bell, Courtesan and Evangelist |website= THE NORTH OF IRELAND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY |access-date= 25 October 2017 }}</ref>
| birth_date = 1829
| birth_place = ], ], Ireland
| baptised =
| death_date = 1894<ref name="family" />
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| body_discovered =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| burial_place = <!-- may be used instead of resting_place and resting_place_coordinates (displays "Burial place" as label) -->
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| monuments =
| nationality =
| other_names =
| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = ], ]
| years_active =
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| notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works"; or by |label_name=, which produces label "Label(s)" -->
| style =
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| criminal_charge = <!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources -->
| criminal_penalty =
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| spouse = Captain August Frederick Thistlethwayte
| partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) -->
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}}
'''Laura Eliza Jane Seymour Bell''' (1829–1894, married name '''Thistlethwayte''') was an Irish-born ] of ] ]. She was most notorious for the ]ese Prime Minister ] reputedly spending £250,000 on her.<ref name="family" /> She later experienced a religious conversion and became a revivalist preacher on morality.


==Early life==
'''Laura Bell''' (1829-1894) was a famous ] of ] ]. She was most notorious for allegedly earning £250,000 for spending a single night with ]ese Prince ], although other sources say that was the total he spent on gifts for her over their full relationship. In 1852 Bell married ]. She experienced a religious conversion and became a revivalist preacher on morality. She was born at Glenavy, Co. Antrim.
Bell was born in ], ]. After an unsupervised childhood, she left home to work as a shop assistant in ]. She earned extra money through ].<ref name="family" />

She later moved to ] where she became a successful courtesan. Bell is rumored to have had an affair with Dr ], father of ].<ref name="family" />

==London==
Around 1849, Bell moved to ],<ref name="family" /> where she became known as ''The Queen of London Whoredom''.<ref name="top">
{{cite web|url=https://listverse.com/2013/02/24/top-10-infamous-women-of-pleasure|title=Top 10 Infamous Women of Pleasure |last=LINAKER |first=MELITA |date=24 February 2013|website=ListVerse|access-date=25 October 2017}}
</ref> Rich noblemen and dukes were entertained by Bell.<ref name="top" />

She often drove through Hyde Park in a gilt carriage drawn by two white horses.<ref name="top" /> It was here she met the ]ese Prime Minister ].<ref name="jung">{{cite web |url= http://historylessonsnepal.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/jung-bahadur-and-courtesan-love-in-time.html |title= JUNG BAHADUR AND THE COURTESAN - LOVE IN THE TIME OF EMPIRE |date= 18 November 2009 |website= History Lessons Nepal |access-date= 25 October 2017 }}</ref> Rana installed Bell in a luxury house on ] in ],<ref name="jung" /> and showered her with gifts. There are stories that Rana paid £250,000 for one night with Bell, but it's far more likely that the sum was the total value of gifts given to Bell over the 90 days they spent together.<ref name="family" /><ref name="top" /> This sum was underwritten by ], ].<ref name="jung" />

When Rana had to return to Nepal, he gave Bell a diamond ring and a promise to fulfill her every wish as a parting gift.<ref name="jung" /> During the ], Bell wrote to Rana asking him to send troops to assist the British during the ]. She enclosed the ring to remind him of his promise.<ref name="jung" /> Rana sent the troops.<ref name="companion" />

On 21 January 1852, she married Captain August Frederick Thistlethwayte,<ref name=odnb>J. Gilliard (2004), Thistlethwayte , Laura Eliza Jane Seymour, '']'' {{doi|10.1093/ref:odnb/39435}}</ref><ref>] Index, Jan-Mar 1852, vol 1a page 248 (]); via ]</ref> who lived in ], ], and had an estate in ], ].<ref name="family" />

==Evangelism==

Bell found religion and became an ], referring to herself as "God's Ambassadress".<ref name="companion">{{cite book |last= Lehane |first= Brendan |title= The Companion Guide to Ireland |publisher= Boydell & Brewer |page= 423 |isbn= 978-1900639347 |year= 2001 }}</ref> She hosted evangelical tea parties for high society<ref name="family" /> and aided London's prostitutes.

In 1887, Thistlethwayte accidentally shot and killed himself (he habitually shot his revolver into the ceiling to summon his valet).<ref name="top" /> Bell never remarried.

] ] and his wife became friends with Bell, and this friendship continued until Bell's death in 1894.<ref name="family" /><ref name="jung" />

==References==
{{reflist}}


==Sources== ==Sources==
*''Courtesans'' by Katie Hickman, 2003, HarperCollins, *''Courtesans'' by Katie Hickman, 2003, HarperCollins, {{ISBN|0-9657930-8-7}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Laura}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Laura}}
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Latest revision as of 03:59, 18 August 2024

Irish courtesan

Laura Bell
portrait of Laura Thistlethwayte by Richard Buckner
BornLaura Eliza Jane Seymour Bell
1829
Glenavy, County Antrim, Ireland
Died1894
Occupation(s)Courtesan, Evangelist
SpouseCaptain August Frederick Thistlethwayte

Laura Eliza Jane Seymour Bell (1829–1894, married name Thistlethwayte) was an Irish-born courtesan of Victorian England. She was most notorious for the Nepalese Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana reputedly spending £250,000 on her. She later experienced a religious conversion and became a revivalist preacher on morality.

Early life

Bell was born in Glenavy, County Antrim. After an unsupervised childhood, she left home to work as a shop assistant in Belfast. She earned extra money through prostitution.

She later moved to Dublin where she became a successful courtesan. Bell is rumored to have had an affair with Dr William Wilde, father of Oscar Wilde.

London

Around 1849, Bell moved to London, where she became known as The Queen of London Whoredom. Rich noblemen and dukes were entertained by Bell.

She often drove through Hyde Park in a gilt carriage drawn by two white horses. It was here she met the Nepalese Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana. Rana installed Bell in a luxury house on Wilton Crescent in Belgravia, and showered her with gifts. There are stories that Rana paid £250,000 for one night with Bell, but it's far more likely that the sum was the total value of gifts given to Bell over the 90 days they spent together. This sum was underwritten by Lord Canning, Governor-General of India.

When Rana had to return to Nepal, he gave Bell a diamond ring and a promise to fulfill her every wish as a parting gift. During the Indian Rebellion, Bell wrote to Rana asking him to send troops to assist the British during the Sepoy Mutiny. She enclosed the ring to remind him of his promise. Rana sent the troops.

On 21 January 1852, she married Captain August Frederick Thistlethwayte, who lived in Grosvenor Square, London, and had an estate in Ross-shire, Scotland.

Evangelism

Bell found religion and became an evangelist, referring to herself as "God's Ambassadress". She hosted evangelical tea parties for high society and aided London's prostitutes.

In 1887, Thistlethwayte accidentally shot and killed himself (he habitually shot his revolver into the ceiling to summon his valet). Bell never remarried.

Prime Minister William Gladstone and his wife became friends with Bell, and this friendship continued until Bell's death in 1894.

References

  1. ^ "Laura Bell, Courtesan and Evangelist" (PDF). THE NORTH OF IRELAND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  2. ^ LINAKER, MELITA (24 February 2013). "Top 10 Infamous Women of Pleasure". ListVerse. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  3. ^ "JUNG BAHADUR AND THE COURTESAN - LOVE IN THE TIME OF EMPIRE". History Lessons Nepal. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  4. ^ Lehane, Brendan (2001). The Companion Guide to Ireland. Boydell & Brewer. p. 423. ISBN 978-1900639347.
  5. J. Gilliard (2004), Thistlethwayte , Laura Eliza Jane Seymour, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39435
  6. General Register Office Index, Jan-Mar 1852, vol 1a page 248 (St George Hanover Square); via FreeBMD

Sources

External links

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