Mellon, the daughter of Lt. Matthew Mellon, was a strolling player (member of a travelling theatre company) and became an actress.[4]
When she was young, she appeared at the Duke Street Theatre, where she attracted the attention of an elderly wealthy banker, Thomas Coutts, founder of Coutts & Co, the royal bank.[5] Following his wife's death in 1815, she married him. From his previous marriage, he had three daughters – Susan (wife of the 3rd Earl of Guilford), Frances (wife of the 1st Marquess of Bute), and Sophia (wife of Sir Francis Burdett).[6]
In 1822, after her husband's death, she became very wealthy, having been bequeathed his entire fortune, including his interest in the family bank.[7] She purchased the lease on a country property four miles away at the Holly Lodge in Highgate, holding parties there and at her town house at 78 Stratton Street Piccadilly. She also spent time at her house in Brighton, St Alban's House, 131 Kings Road, on the corner of Regency Square.[8]
What a strange eventful life has mine been, from a poor little player child, with just food and clothes to cover me, dependent on a very precarious profession, without talent or a friend in the world – first the wife of the best, the most perfect being that ever breathed ...and now the wife of a Duke! You must write my life... my true history written by the author of Waverley.[9]
On her death in 1837, her property and fortune went to her stepgranddaughter, selected as heir after careful scrutiny of the possible recipients, who as a condition of the inheritance adapted her name to Angela Burdett-Coutts.[7]
^ abWilliam Cushing (1885). Initials and Pseudonyms: A Dictionary of Literary Disguises. Thomas Y. Crowell. p. 541.
^ abMrs. Cornwell Baron-Wilson (1839). Memoirs of Harriot, Duchess of St. Albans. H. Colburn.
^Lundy, Darryl (2 December 2010). "Harriet Mellon". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 24 January 2012.[unreliable source]
^Perkin, Joan. From Strolling Player to Banker-Duchess History Today Volume 50 Issue 10 (October 2000).
^Healey, Edna (1992). Coutts & Co 1692–1992: The Portrait of a Private Bank. ISBN0-340-55826-1.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Coutts, Thomas". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 337.
^ abcHealey, Edna (January 2012). "Coutts, Angela Georgina Burdett-, suo jure Baroness Burdett-Coutts (1814–1906)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edn (subscription required). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
^Old and New London Illustrated: A Narrative of its History, its People and its Places. Illustrated with numerous engravings from the most Authentic Sources. (6 vols) sub vol. 3&4 combined: Westminster and the Westminster Suburbs. 1881. pp. 278–281.
^The Journal of Sir Walter Scott June 30 1827 (published 1891)
Further reading
There is one biography of Harriot Mellon: Joan Perkin's The Merry Duchess (Athena Press, 2002)
Old and New London Illustrated: A Narrative of its History, its People and its Places. Illustrated with numerous engravings from the most Authentic Sources. (6 vols) sub vol. 3&4 combined: Westminster and the Westminster Suburbs. 1881. pp. 278–281.
Healey, Edna. Coutts & Co 1692–1992: The Portrait of a Private Bank. ISBN0-340-55826-1.
January 20, 2023
harriet, mellon, harriet, beauclerk, duchess, albans, alternate, spelling, harriot, née, mellon, november, 1777, august, 1837, british, banker, actress, eventually, starred, drury, lane, successively, wife, banker, thomas, coutts, then, william, beauclerk, duk. Harriet Beauclerk Duchess of St Albans alternate spelling Harriot 2 nee Mellon 11 November 1777 6 August 1837 3 was a British banker and actress who eventually starred at Drury Lane She was successively the wife of banker Thomas Coutts and then of William Beauclerk 9th Duke of St Albans 1 She was widely celebrated for her beauty and she was painted by George Romney and Sir Thomas Lawrence Her GraceThe Duchess of St AlbansPortrait by William Beechey c 1818Personal detailsBornHarriet 1 or Harriot 2 Mellon 1777 11 11 11 November 1777Died6 August 1837 1837 08 06 aged 59 SpousesThomas Coutts m 1815 died 1822 wbr William Beauclerk 9th Duke of St Albans m 1827 wbr ParentMatthew Mellon father Contents 1 Early life and first marriage 2 Second marriage 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingEarly life and first marriage EditMellon the daughter of Lt Matthew Mellon was a strolling player member of a travelling theatre company and became an actress 4 When she was young she appeared at the Duke Street Theatre where she attracted the attention of an elderly wealthy banker Thomas Coutts founder of Coutts amp Co the royal bank 5 Following his wife s death in 1815 she married him From his previous marriage he had three daughters Susan wife of the 3rd Earl of Guilford Frances wife of the 1st Marquess of Bute and Sophia wife of Sir Francis Burdett 6 In 1822 after her husband s death she became very wealthy having been bequeathed his entire fortune including his interest in the family bank 7 She purchased the lease on a country property four miles away at the Holly Lodge in Highgate holding parties there and at her town house at 78 Stratton Street Piccadilly She also spent time at her house in Brighton St Alban s House 131 Kings Road on the corner of Regency Square 8 Second marriage EditIn 1827 she married William Beauclerk 9th Duke of St Albans who was 23 years her junior 7 Sir Walter Scott wrote to her to congratulate her Her reply is quoted in full in his journal for 30 June 1827 They were old and true friends and she wrote to him What a strange eventful life has mine been from a poor little player child with just food and clothes to cover me dependent on a very precarious profession without talent or a friend in the world first the wife of the best the most perfect being that ever breathed and now the wife of a Duke You must write my life my true history written by the author of Waverley 9 On her death in 1837 her property and fortune went to her stepgranddaughter selected as heir after careful scrutiny of the possible recipients who as a condition of the inheritance adapted her name to Angela Burdett Coutts 7 See also EditList of entertainers who married titled BritishersReferences Edit a b William Cushing 1885 Initials and Pseudonyms A Dictionary of Literary Disguises Thomas Y Crowell p 541 a b Mrs Cornwell Baron Wilson 1839 Memoirs of Harriot Duchess of St Albans H Colburn Lundy Darryl 2 December 2010 Harriet Mellon www thepeerage com Retrieved 24 January 2012 unreliable source Perkin Joan From Strolling Player to Banker Duchess History Today Volume 50 Issue 10 October 2000 Healey Edna 1992 Coutts amp Co 1692 1992 The Portrait of a Private Bank ISBN 0 340 55826 1 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Coutts Thomas Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 7 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 337 a b c Healey Edna January 2012 Coutts Angela Georgina Burdett suo jure Baroness Burdett Coutts 1814 1906 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online edn subscription required Oxford University Press Retrieved 21 April 2014 Old and New London Illustrated A Narrative of its History its People and its Places Illustrated with numerous engravings from the most Authentic Sources 6 vols sub vol 3 amp 4 combined Westminster and the Westminster Suburbs 1881 pp 278 281 The Journal of Sir Walter Scott June 30 1827 published 1891 Further reading EditThere is one biography of Harriot Mellon Joan Perkin s The Merry Duchess Athena Press 2002 Old and New London Illustrated A Narrative of its History its People and its Places Illustrated with numerous engravings from the most Authentic Sources 6 vols sub vol 3 amp 4 combined Westminster and the Westminster Suburbs 1881 pp 278 281 Healey Edna Coutts amp Co 1692 1992 The Portrait of a Private Bank ISBN 0 340 55826 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harriet Mellon amp oldid 1099753956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
