Mary Eleanor Bowes, the widowed Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, was engaged to her lover, George Gray, in the summer of 1776 when she met the outwardly charming but wily Anglo-Irish adventurer, Andrew Robinson Stoney, who manipulated his way into her household (using the governess of the children, Eliza Planta) and her bed. Calling himself "Captain Stoney" – although he was, in reality, a lieutenant in the British Army – he insisted on fighting a duel in Mary's honour with the editor of The Morning Post newspaper which had published scurrilous articles about her private life. In fact, he had himself written the articles that criticised her, as well as those defending her; and the duel between Stoney and the newspaper's editor was probably staged.
Mary Eleanor Bowes, the widowed Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, was engaged to her lover, George Gray, in the summer of 1776 when she met the attractive but cunning Anglo-Irish adventurer, Andrew Robinson Stoney, who infiltrated her household (through the governess of the children, Eliza Planta) and her bed. Claiming to be "Captain Stoney" – though he was actually a lieutenant in the British Army – he insisted on engaging in a duel with the editor of The Morning Post newspaper that had published defamatory articles about her private life. In reality, he himself authored those articles, both criticizing and defending her; and the duel between Stoney and the newspaper's editor may have been staged.