[2] Lady Mary was born at Gopsall Hall in Leicestershire, the daughter of Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe, and his second wife, Anne Gore, daughter of Admiral Sir John Gore.

She had two brothers, Montagu Curzon and Admiral Sir Assheton Curzon-Howe, and 10 half-siblings by her father's first marriage.

[3] The Duchess held the office of Lady-in-Waiting to Alexandra, Princess of Wales.

She died a few months later at her residence at 115 Park Street, Mayfair.

[2] Lady Mary married James Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton, eldest son of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, and Lady Louisa Jane Russel on 7 January 1869[4] at St. George's Church, St. George Street, Hanover Square, London, England.