Early Life and the Grand Tour Harriet Cheney’s story begins not in a bustling studio, but amidst the opulence and privilege of 18th-century Durham, England. Born in September 1771 to Isabella Byrne and Ralph Carr – a merchant and banker – her childhood was steeped in wealth and social standing. The Carr family were prominent figures, landowners with extensive interests including shipping, banking, and coal mining, establishing a l…