Charles Benda

Benda also married an Englishwoman: Mary Collins, the daughter of the English gentleman Whitfield Collins. Mary and Carl, or Charles as he was called in England, got married on 14^th February 1846. As mentioned previously, Carl Benda also tried to get a pension in 1847. This seems to have been finally approved by the Prince, because a letter written by Mary Benda in 1873 makes clear that Carl retired in 1848. On 15^th July 1873 she complained to Sir Thomas Biddulph, who was Keeper of the Privy Purse at the time, that the annual pension of £50 as approved by Prince Albert was not enough to survive. At that time Carl and Mary Benda lived at 72 Herrngasse in Coburg. Mary in her letter pointed out that if Carl hadn’t left Coburg, he would not have lost his forestry job there. The Queen then increased his annual pension by £15. When Carl Benda died three years later, on 30^th March 1876, his widow was awarded £40 per year. This testifies to a continuous support for the Royal servants and their families even after their retirement or death.  Mary Benda died on 15^th December 1881 in Coburg. Whether the couple had children has not yet been determined.