Rosalind Howard, Countess of Carlisle

[3] The Stanley family was exceptionally diverse in terms of religious convictions: Lord and Lady Stanley were high-church Anglicans, their eldest son Henry was a Muslim, their third daughter Maude was a low-church Anglican, their youngest son Algernon became a Roman Catholic bishop, their penultimate daughter Kate leaned towards atheism, while Rosalind herself identified as an agnostic.

She took part in election campaigns of her husband and father-in-law Charles by canvassing, but refrained from speaking publicly, which was considered improper for a woman.

In sharp contrast to her moderate husband, however, Howard soon joined the radical left, denouncing William Ewart Gladstone's occupation of Egypt and campaigning for women's suffrage.

She joined Liberal Party women's associations and the temperance movement, involved herself in the management of the extensive family estates and took part in local government.

In 1891, a United Kingdom Alliance official convinced Lady Carlisle to speak on the subject of temperance at a drawing-room meeting of women.

She soon became a successful platform speaker and vice-president of the United Kingdom Alliance, as well as president of the North of England Temperance League in 1892.

[3] The Countess of Carlisle allied herself with a small group of Liberal MPs, including her son Geoffrey, her son-in-law Charles Henry Roberts, her secretary Leifchild Leif-Jones and her neighbour Sir Wilfrid Lawson.

She supported H. H. Asquith despite his unwillingness to promote prohibition and opposed David Lloyd George's proposal to nationalise the drink trade during wartime.

The Countess of Carlisle died on 12 August 1921 at her home in Kensington Palace Gardens, having survived seven of her children, and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium four days later.