Campbell, Lady Colin (1857–1911)
Campbell, Lady Colin (1857–1911)
Irish-English journalist and socialite. Name variations: Gertrude Elizabeth, Lady Colin Campbell; (pseudonym) G.B. Brunefille. Born Gertrude Elizabeth Blood in May 1857; grew up at Thurloe Square, South Kensington, in London, and Brickhill, Co. Clare, Ireland; died Nov 2, 1911; dau. of Edmund Maghlin Blood; m. Lord Colin Campbell (1853–1895, MP for Argyllshire, 1878–85), July 21, 1881 (div. 1884).
Had a liberal upbringing and could speak English, Italian and French; enjoyed the company of royals, politicians, artists and writers; when marriage ended up in divorce courts, accused husband of adultery and cruelty, while he accused her of having 4 co-respondents (it was the longest divorce trial in English legal history); after he died (1895), reestablished her place in society as art critic of The World (1889–1903) and Art Journal; was also founder and co-editor of Realm (1894–1905) and editor of Ladies Field (1901–03); under pseudonym G.B. Brunefille, wrote Topo, A Tale about English Children in Italy (1878); also wrote Etiquette in Society (1886) and Darrell Blake, a Study (1889).