| This painting, which resides in the old Caroline County Courthouse was purchased at auction in Washington D.C. by county resident Herbert R. Collins, curator emeritus (retired) at the Smithsonian Institution. It was his gift to the county. This is the original coronation portrait of the queen for whom the county is named and was painted by Sir Charles Jarvis. It is one of only three original English coronation portraits in the United States. England has only a copy. The portrait occupies a commanding position above the Judge's chair. |  |
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The early life of the queen was tragic. As a child her parents both died in separate incidents, consequently she was raised by her godmother the electress of Brandenburg and Queen of Prussia. There in Berlin, she received an unusual education. The electress was known as an ardent feminist and she passed these ideals along to her goddaughter. Caroline was considered a great beauty by the standards of the time. She had flaxen hair, blue eyes, flawless complexion and a short plump figure. At eighteen, she received her first suitor, Charles of Hapsburg, heir to the crown of Austria and considered the greatest catch in Europe. At first, the pair seemed a perfect match but she soon began to debate the young man over his religion. Princesses usually switched religion at a moments notice to gain a throne, but not Caroline. She argued and questioned his religious instructors until Charles finally left in disgust.George Augustus, the son of the elector of Hanover heard of Caroline's beauty and sent a courtier to see if she was a beautiful as rumored. The man reported that she was but George was still not satisfied and went to see for himself. He was evidently pleased because shortly thereafter the two were married and Caroline went to live in Hanover A feud began immediately between Caroline and her father in law, the man who was to become the tyrannical George I, King of England. George I hated all women except his mistresses. He tormented his mother to death and imprisoned his wife for thirteen years. Upon the death of the English Queen, Anne, the family moved to England to take up their position as the 'royal family.' George I attempted to convert the English court into a German one. Caroline, on the other hand, learned the new language and began to cultivate friends among the English nobility. Suddenly one night, Caroline and her husband were aroused and ordered to leave the palace. Her children were taken from her and the baby she had recently borne soon died from neglect. George I placed her sons with teachers in Germany. Caroline's English friends supported her and forced her father-in-law to grant the couple a small stipend for their living expenses. Caroline was able to set up a small rival court of her own known as Leister House. The court was not officially recognized but it was English in striking contrast to that of George 1. Caroline cultivated all of the great English leaders. As George I grew older, he tried to have the British secession arranged so that his grandsons, who had been raised in Germany, would inherit the throne. He did not accomplish this. Upon his death, a struggle ensued between the German and English fractions. Caroline won and mounted the throne as the consort of the new King, George 11, The people of England quickly realized that she was the real ruler of England. It is unknown who decided this county should bear the name of the new queen, but she soon became associated with enlightened thought and ideas. Her descendants still rule England today. | |