Christina Anne Jessica Cavendish-Bentinck
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Christina Anne Jessica Cavendish-Bentinck | |
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| Born | July 4, 1852  |
| Died | June 2, 1912 (aged 59) |
| Spouse(s) | Sir Tatton Sykes |
| Children | Mark Sykes |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Venetia James, William George Cavendish-Bentinck, Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck |
Christina Anne Jessica Cavendish-Bentinck, Lady Sykes (July 4, 1852 – June 2, 1912) was a British writer and novelist. Familiarly known as "Jessie", she published under the names Jessica Sykes and J. A. C. Sykes.
Christina Anne Jessica Cavendish-Bentinck was born on July 4, 1852.[1] She was the daughter of politician George Cavendish-Bentick and Prudentia Penelope Leslie Cavendish-Bentick. Her siblings included Venetia James and William George Cavendish-Bentinck.[2] Intelligent and opinionated, she studied art in Paris and idolized John Ruskin.[3]
Thanks to the machinations of her formidable mother, at age 18 she was engaged to the wealthy 48-year old Sir Tatton Sykes, 5th Baronet. They were married at Westminster Abbey in 1874. They would have one child, Colonel Mark Sykes. The marriage was disastrous for both parties. They had little in common and Tatton Sykes was abusive and miserly, so Jessie Sykes turned to affairs, drinking, and gambling. She amassed significant debts. One creditor sued, resulting in a public scandal when Tatton Sykes testified that he did not sign a promissory note to this creditor.[3]
Christina Anne Jessica Cavendish-Bentinck died on 2 June 1912 at her home in London.[4]