LOLA MONTEZ (MARIA DoLortEs Portnis), Countess of Landsfelt, 1824-61; alleged by Mirecourt, author of Les Contemporaines, to have been born in Montrose, Scotland, though she claimed Seville, Spain, as her birthplace. When quite young she married capt. James of the East India service against the wish of her mother, and traveled with him in India. She also accompanied him during an expedition against the Afghans. About 1838 she obtained a separation from her husband, and traveled in Europe, leading an erratic life in the different capitals, at one time singing barcaroles in the streets ot Warsaw, and again appearing as a danseuse in the theater of that city. She now adopted the stage as a profession, appearing usually as a dancer, and, though possessing little skill in that direction, achieved a certain degree of popularity by her graceful person and charming vivacity of manner. In 1£347 she visited Munich, and there attracted the atten tion of king Louis of Bavaria. She was at this time very attractive, handsome, and with a remarkable talent for political intrigue. The king gave her a residence in Munich and an income estiinated at $25,000 per annum, and made her tbe confidant of his political schemes. She soon exercised a powerful influence, and, as is believed, for the interest of Bavaria. But she made many enemies, the Jesuits, as she averred, being active against her. A difficulty with the students of the university of Munich at length pre cipitated her downfall, and the king was forced by his counselors to consent to her arrest and deportation from the country. This act was followed by the abdication of
the king himself, who afterwards vainly sought to renew his association with Lola 3Iontez, who absolutely rejected his advances. During her stay in 3Iunich, she was named by the king countess of Landsfelt, with the consent of the crown prince. Lola now visited England, and in 1849 was married to George Stafford Heald, esq., of the 2d life-guards, a gentleman of family and position, with an income of R6,000 per annum., His family opposed the match, and on Aug. 6, 1849, through their instigation, sh6 was brought before a London police court on a charge of bigamy; her former husband, capt. James, being still living in India. Her defense (of a divorce) was not accepted, the law prohibiting either party from marrying again during the life-time of the ether ; Heald accordingly obtained a divorce, and Lola continued to lead her former wandering life. She sailed for New York in the autumn of 1851, on board the same steamer with Louis Kossuth, arriving on Dec. 5. She appeared at the Broadway theater in a piece called Lola Montez in Bavaria, and as a danseuse in most of the large cities. In 1855 she took a company of players to Australia, and gave some of her characteristic perfor mances in the principal towns. In 1858 she delivered a lecture on Beautiful 1Vomen in New York. The last few years of her life were passed in retirement.