A George III gold memorial ring, the ring centred with a black enamel band, inset with gold lettering reading: ‘LADY MARY SIDNEY BEAUCLERK OB 19 NOV 1766 AET 67’, between plain stepped borders, the shank stamped with maker’s mark ‘E..’ (second letter indistinct), ring size P. £260-300

Mary Norris (or Norreys) (c 1698-1766) was the daughter of Thomas Norris and Magdalen Aston, and the wife of Sidney Beauclerk, (1703-1744), 5th son of of Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans (1670-1726) and Diana de Vere.

Mary Norris married Sidney Beauclerk in 1736. Sidney traced his ancestry back to Nell Gwynn and Charles II. Described by Lady Mary Wortley Montague in 1727 as “a Youth of Royal blood, with all his Grandmother’s beauty, wit and qualitys (sic)’’, he proved to be a notorious rake and fortune hunter, earning himself the names ‘Worthless Sidney’ and ‘Sid the Beggar’ .

They were the parents of Topham Fortescue Beauclerk, the celebrated wit and friend of Dr Johnson and Horace Walpole.

See: The Johnson Circle: A Group Portrait by Lyle Larsen.