These two ladies not only shared their birth names, but they were both (sort of) married twice and their first 'married' surnames were also almost the same.
Mary Ann Evans (also known as Mary Anne or Marion) was of course the birth name of the novelist George Eliot. She was in a relationship with the philosopher George Lewes from 1854; and although Lewes was married, both partners considered themselves married to each other. After Lewes's death in 1878, Mary Ann Evans legally changed her name to Mary Ann Evans Lewes. Then in May 1880 – seven months before her death – she married John Cross and took his surname.
Mary Anne Evans married Wyndham Lewis, MP – a colleague of Benjamin Disraeli – in 1815. In August 1839, the year following Lewis's death, she married Disraeli; it was her fortune that allowed him to purchase the estate of Hughenden in Buckinghamshire and to live in the style of an English gentleman.
In recognition of Disraeli's services to the nation, Queen Victoria wished to ennoble him at the end of his first ministry; but he preferred to remain in the House of Commons. His wife, however, accepted the title in his place and was created Viscountess Beaconsfield. Only After Mary's death did Disraeli accept the title of Earl of Beaconsfield.
© Haydn Thompson 2020