About Eva Ekeblad | Autobiography |

Eva De la Gardie was born to statesman count Magnus Julius De la Gardie (1668–1741) and the amateur politiciany and salonist Hedvig Catharina Lilje: sister of Captain Carl Julius De la Gardie and Hedvig Catharina De la Gardie and the aunt of Axel von Fersen the Younger. Her brother was married to the famous Cathérine Charlotte De la Gardie and the brother-in-law of the royal favorite Hedvig Tvaube.

In 1740, at the age of 16, Eva married the riksråd count Claes Claesson Ekeblad, and became the mother of seven children: one son and six daughters. Among them being Claes Julius Ekeblad (1742–1808) and Hedda Piper. Their spouses belonged to the elite of the Swedish nobility.

Upon her marriage, her father gave her the estates Mariedal Castle and Lindholmen Castle, Västergötland.^[7] Her spouse, additionally, owned the Stola Manor estate as well as a residence in the capital of Stockholm.

Because the frequent absence of her spouse on business, Eva Ekeblad was given the responsibility of the management of the three estates, including the task of supervising the bailiffs and presiding at the country-assemblies of the parishes of the estates.She is described as imposing and temperamental with great authority: fair toward the peasantry, whom she protected against abuse from the bailiffs in return for obedience, and as someone who did not hesitate to punish wrongdoing during conflicts with local dignitaries.She also had a leading role in the local aristocracy, and Stola manor was renowned for its good order.

In the Ekeblad residence in Stockholm, she hosted a cultural salon and was described by the wife of the Spanish ambassador de marquis de Puentefuerte as "one of few aristocratic ladies whose honor was considered untainted".^[1] The first concert performances of the mass music of Johan Helmich Roman were performed in her salon at the Ekeblad House.She was on friendly terms with queen Louisa Ulrika.

After the death of her spouse in 1771, she retired to the countryside. Mariedal and Lindholmen estates served as her dower estates, the former being her personal residence, but she initially also kept control of her son's estate Stola, he being also absent from his estates like his father because of his career.

In 1775, her son Claes Julius Ekeblad (1742–1808), married Brita Horn, and three years after, Stola manor was granted to her daughter-in-law as a dower. In November 1778, Eva Ekeblad was present as a witness during the birth of the future Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden. She stayed in the capital for two years, during which she was much celebrated and was offered several positions at court: as a lady in waiting to the queen, as överhovmästarinna (Mistress of the Robes) in succession to Ulrika Strömfelt, and as royal governess for the crown prince.She was forced to refuse, however, as in that same year her previously good health was affected by an illness which left her much weakened and made her periodically bedridden for her remaining eight years. She spent her last six years in Mariedal Castle, where she continued to be celebrated by the local aristocracy until her death.