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Diamantina, Lady Bowen (née di Roma) (c. 1832/1833–1893) was a noble from the formerly Venetian Ionian Islands〔A history of Queensland, Raymond Evans, Cambridge University Press, 2008〕 who became the wife of Sir George Bowen, the first Governor of Queensland. ==Personal life== The Contessa Diamantina di Roma was born in 1832 or 1833〔Some sources attribute her birth to 1832 but others to 1833.〕 in the United States of the Ionian Islands, then a British protectorate, today in Greece. Her place of birth is either as Zante (Zakynthos), Corfu or Ithaca. Her parents were Count and his wife Countess Orsola, née di Balsamo. Diamantina was the tenth of their eleven children. Her aristocratic family were descended from the Venetians who had settled in the Ionian Islands for centuries as part of the Stato da Màr. Her father was the President of the Ionian Senate (1850-1856), titular Head of State of the United States of the Ionian Islands. He was also appointed a Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria. With such a family, Diamantina had a privileged well-educated upbringing and was familiar with the workings of government, politics and diplomacy. On 28 April 1856 at the Palace of St Michael and St George in Corfu, Diamantina married Sir George Bowen, who was political secretary of the British Protectorate, and a former Rector of the Ionian Academy. Their first two children were born in the Ionian Islands. Their first child, a son, died twelve days old. Their second child, a daughter, was born on 17 August 1858 and was called Adelaide Diamantina Bowen, but was known as Nina. After their move to Brisbane, they had three more children there:〔Queensland Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages〕 * Zoe Caroline Bowen, born 28 August 1860 at Adelaide House (the temporary Government House)〔(''Birth notice'' ), Moreton Bay Courier, Saturday 25 August 1860, page 2〕 * Agnes Herbert Bowen, born 26 July 1862 at Government House〔(''Birth notice'' ), The Courier, Tuesday 29 July 1862, page 2〕 * George William Howard Bowen, born 9 April 1864 at Government House〔(''Birth notice'' ), The Brisbane Courier, Monday 11 April 1864, page 2〕 A final daughter, Alfreda Ernestina Albertina Bowen, was born on 10 April 1869 at Government House, Auckland, New Zealand.〔(''Birth'' ), Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3660, 12 April 1869, Page 3 〕〔(Index to "The History of Coryton" )〕 Diamantina was described as "pretty" but tempered perhaps by the remark "her beauty being in her expression rather than her features". She was described as "slender but graceful". She could play the piano and sing well, even with previously unseen pieces of music. Living most of her life in English-speaking countries, Diamantina spoke English well but with a slight accent. Although she spoke in English in public, it was claimed she spoke with her husband at home in her native Italian. Diamantina was frequently described as "softly spoken". Her husband's career took the family all over the world, as governor postings were typically for five years. We do not know how Diamantina felt about this frequent upheaval, but she cried copiously as the family departed from Brisbane, suggesting that she had had many close personal connections while there. Her daughter Nina married Allan Campbell, a Queensland grazier.〔(Australian ), Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 9361, 5 March 1879, Page 2〕〔(Contessa Diamantina Roma, Lady Bowen ), by Dr Owen Harris, Chairman, Diamantina Health Care Museum Association Inc〕 Eventually the couple retired to London, England in 1883 accompanied by their two unmarried daughters. Diamantina worshipped in the Greek Orthodox church during retirement in London, suggesting she maintained her connection to her religious roots throughout her life, despite so many years spent in British colonies. Diamantina died at Bethnal Green, London, England on 17 November 1893〔http://www.freebmd.org〕 from acute bronchitis. She is buried in Kensal Green cemetery in London. Her son George William Howard Bowen married Gertrude Chamberlain (niece of Joseph Chamberlain, Colonial Secretary) on 16 January 1896 in Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London, England. His sister Alfreda was a bridesmaid.〔〔(Marriage of Mr. Bowen and Miss Chamberlain ), Brisbane Courier, Thursday 27 February 1896, page 7〕 Her daughter Alfreda married Robert Lydston Newman in October 1899 at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London, England.〔()〕〔(Anglo-Colonial Notes ), Evening Post (Wellington, New Zealand), 24 November 1899, page 5〕 Her brother George gave Alfreda away (her father having died earlier that year). A sculpture of Diamantina was created by sculptor Phillip Piperides in 1989 for the Greek Community Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland. In June 2009, it was moved to Old Government House at Queensland University of Technology. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Diamantina Bowen」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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