Harriet Mellon
Encyclopedia
Harriot Mellon was a British actress who eventually starred at Drury Lane
. She was successively the wife of banker Thomas Coutts
and William Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St Albans
.
Mellon was the daughter of strolling players (members of a travelling theatre company) and became an actress. When she was young, she appeared at the Duke Street Theatre, where she attracted the attention of an elderly wealthy banker, Thomas Coutts
of Coutts & Co
, the royal bank. Following his wife's death in 1815 she married him. She was widely celebrated for her beauty, and was painted by George Romney
and Sir Thomas Lawrence.
In 1822, after her husband's death, she became very wealthy. 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 Piccadilly. She also spent time at her house in Brighton, St Alban's House, 131 Kings Road, on the corner of Regency Square. In 1827 she married William Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St Albans
, who was 23 years her junior.
On her death in 1837 her property and fortune went to Coutts's granddaughter, who as a condition of the inheritance adapted her name to Angela Burdett-Coutts.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
. She was successively the wife of banker Thomas Coutts
Thomas Coutts
Thomas Coutts was an Anglo-Scottish banker who was the founder of the banking house of Coutts & Co.He was the fourth son of John Coutts , who carried on business in Edinburgh as a corn factor and negotiator of bills of exchange, and who in 1742 was elected lord provost of the city...
and William Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St Albans
William Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St Albans
William Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St. Albans was the son of William Beauclerk, 8th Duke of St Albans. He played a first-class cricket match for Hampshire in 1817....
.
Mellon was the daughter of strolling players (members of a travelling theatre company) and became an actress. When she was young, she appeared at the Duke Street Theatre, where she attracted the attention of an elderly wealthy banker, Thomas Coutts
Thomas Coutts
Thomas Coutts was an Anglo-Scottish banker who was the founder of the banking house of Coutts & Co.He was the fourth son of John Coutts , who carried on business in Edinburgh as a corn factor and negotiator of bills of exchange, and who in 1742 was elected lord provost of the city...
of Coutts & Co
Coutts
Coutts & Co. is one of the UK's private banking houses, now wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland . RBS acquired Coutts and all of its overseas subsidiaries when it bought NatWest. On 1 January 2008, Coutts' international businesses were renamed RBS Coutts, aligning them more closely with...
, the royal bank. Following his wife's death in 1815 she married him. She was widely celebrated for her beauty, and was painted by George Romney
George Romney (painter)
George Romney was an English portrait painter. He was the most fashionable artist of his day, painting many leading society figures - including his artistic muse, Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson....
and Sir Thomas Lawrence.
In 1822, after her husband's death, she became very wealthy. She purchased the lease on a country property four miles away at the Holly Lodge
Holly Lodge Estate
The Holly Lodge Estate is an estate located on the site and grounds of a villa built in 1798 by Sir Henry Tempest on the south-facing slopes of Highgate, London adjacent to Highgate Rise, now known as Highgate West Hill...
in Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
, holding parties there and at her town house at 78 Piccadilly. She also spent time at her house in Brighton, St Alban's House, 131 Kings Road, on the corner of Regency Square. In 1827 she married William Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St Albans
William Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St Albans
William Aubrey de Vere Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St. Albans was the son of William Beauclerk, 8th Duke of St Albans. He played a first-class cricket match for Hampshire in 1817....
, who was 23 years her junior.
On her death in 1837 her property and fortune went to Coutts's granddaughter, who as a condition of the inheritance adapted her name to Angela Burdett-Coutts.