Maurice George Bisset

Maurice George Bisset (1757–1821) of Knighton Gorges on the Isle of Wight, and of Lessendrum in Aberdeen, Scotland, 18th Scottish feudal baron of Lessendrum, is famous for his involvement in the scandalous court case involving his mistress Seymour Dorothy Fleming (Lady Worseley) and her husband Sir Richard Worsley, 7th Baronet, of Appuldurcombe House, Isle of Wight. The case was the result of his affair with Lady Worseley, by whom he had a daughter, Jane Seymour Worsley, of whom Richard claimed paternity in order to avoid scandal. Origins Maurice George Bisset was born in 1757, the eldest son and heir of Rev. Alexander Bisset (the son of Major William Bisset, the second son of Alexander Bisset, 13th feudal baron of Lessendrum in Aberdeen, Scotland) by his wife Jane Bockland, daughter and heiress of Lieutenant-General Maurice Bocland (1695-1765) of Knighton Gorges, MP. "The Bissets of Lessendrum, one of the most ancient families in the county of Aberdeen, were in possession of that barony long before the War of Independence". Career In 1765, aged 8, he inherited the estate and manor house of Knighton Gorges from his grandfather Lieutenant-General Maurice Bocland. He became a captain in the South Hampshire Militia, which covered the Isle of Wight. Bisset became a close friend of Worsley, his near neighbour on the Isle of Wight. As was revealed in the court case, with the encouragement of her husband, Bisset began an affair with Lady Worseley and in August 1781 she gave birth to his daughter, christened as Jane Seymour Worsley, whose paternity was nevertheless accepted by the baronet, to avoid scandal. In November 1781 Bisset ran away with her so she could escape her failing marriage with Richard. They were however discovered and in February 1782 Worsley brought a criminal conversation legal action against Bisset seeking damages of £20,000 (2015: £). Seymour, who was rumoured to have 27 lovers, turned the case against Richard and made it clear that he had consented to and even encouraged the relationship between her and Bisset. This testimony destroyed Worsley's suit and the jury awarded him nominal damages of just one shilling (2015: £). Marriage and issue Seymour was unable to obtain a divorce from Richard, only a separation, meaning she could not remarry until he died.