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Margaretta EagarNanny who served the children of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna
Date of Birth: 12.08.1863
Country:  Ireland |
Content:
Early Life
Kathleen Irene Iger was born on August 12, 1863, in Limerick, Ireland, to a Protestant family. She was one of ten children born to Francis and Frances Iger. Iger received her nursing education in Belfast and later worked as a nurse in an orphanage.
Nursemaid to the Grand Duchesses
In 1898, Iger became the nursemaid to Tsar Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna's daughters. She remained with the family for six years, during which time she taught the four grand duchesses English. Under Iger's influence, the grand duchesses developed an Irish accent so pronounced that an English tutor, Charles Sidney, had to be hired to correct their pronunciation as they grew older.
Departure from the Imperial Family
Iger left the imperial family in 1904, citing personal reasons. Some speculate that she was dismissed due to the tensions surrounding the Russo-Japanese War, as Great Britain supported Japan. During her service, Iger received a pension from the Russian government.
Later Life
After leaving the Romanov family, Iger managed a boarding house unsuccessfully, which led her into debt. Her family members reported that she was haunted by the brutal murder of the grand duchesses in 1918 and worried about their well-being until her death in 1936 at a private sanitarium.
