Poldark Wiki
Poldark Wiki
Advertisement

Ursula Warleggan (b. 1799) was the daughter of George Warleggan and the late Elizabeth Warleggan. Unlike her elder half-brother Valentine, she was born a month premature. This was deliberate by Elizabeth and it caused her death, leaving Ursula to be raised by George.


Biography[]

Birth[]

"Your daughter is small but in every way healthy."
—Dwight Enys

Ursula was born at Trenwith in the autumn of 1799 to George and Elizabeth Warleggan. Elizabeth had induced labour early by taking a potion, in order to persuade George that her second child Valentine Warleggan also belonged to him. She had claimed Valentine was an eight month baby, and wanted Ursula to be.[1]

"You still have your daughter."
—Dwight to George upon the death of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth fainted when she took the potion and woke up in pain. Ursula was born healthy and Elizabeth was very happy. George held her and promised them a better life, and Elizabeth named her. However, the next day Elizabeth woke up feeling very unwell and eventually passed away. George felt he had nothing to live for, until Doctor Enys gave him newborn Ursula. George thought she looked nothing like Elizabeth. He later held a swaddled Ursula in front of Elizabeth's gravestone, at the end Drake and Morwenna's wedding, with young Valentine by his side.[1]

Early life[]

Ursula was cared for by a nursemaid, Bessie. In early 1800, a grieving George no longer wanted to live at Trenwith because he felt haunted by lingering memories of Elizabeth. He took Ursula and Valentine to live in the Warleggan house in Truro for a while instead. He later told Cary Warleggan he wanted a portrait of Elizabeth, Valentine and Ursula done for their new house.[2]

Ursula was taken by Bessie to live back at Trenwith when George and Cary were attending business elsewhere. If Ursula had the full attention of Bessie, Valentine became jealous. He would watch Bessie holding Ursula, and broke a toy in anger and isolation.[3] He later glared at Bessie when she was taking her for a walk in the garden.[4]

Appearance[]

"She does not look like her mother."
—George about Ursula

Elizabeth's children tended to look like their father, rather than her. Ursula looked like George, and he noted this.[1]

Notes and sources[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Poldark, Season 4, Episode 8
  2. Poldark, Season 5, Episode 1
  3. Poldark, Season 5, Episode 2
  4. Poldark, Season 5, Episode 3
Advertisement