[2] Lady Gwendolen was born on 3 July 1860 in St Pancras, London, the second of seven surviving children of the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, and his wife, the former Georgina Alderson.

In July 1931, the third volume, covering the years 1880–86, was published, giving insight into his family life at the same time he took office in 1885, as well as events such as Lord Randolph Churchill's resignation as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The fourth volume, covering the years 1887–92, was n December 1931, and dealt primarily with Lord Salisbury's foreign policy.

[6] In 1895, Lady Gwendolen was revealed as the author of the story The Closed Cabinet, a work once considered anonymous.

[7] In 1878, British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli stayed at her family home and he wrote to Queen Victoria that he had rarely met (referring to Gwendolen and her sister) "more intelligent and agreeable women."