Sharp County record., 1880-04-01
Lady Rurdett. COutts-The Wealthiest
Woman in England.

Miss Burdett-COutts, known as the
richest single woman IN England anu
as a person of such liberallty IN the us
tribution of vast wealth as to commend
her to the admiration OF the clVlilzed
world. came into the possession OF her
fortune in a very interesting manner.
She seems to prefer the simple title OF
Miss COutts to that of Baroness CouttS,
conferred upon her by Queen victoria
in 1871 in consideration OF her munlh-
cent public charities. Miss Coutts lived
in rather straitened circumstances DUR
inc her early years, inheriting no prop
ertv from her rich grandfather, Thomas
Coutts, the eminent banker, porn IN
1741. At the death of his brother Peter,
Mr.. Coutts assumed the entire direction
of the firm, which, under his control,
rose to its highest prosperity. HeWas a
gentleman in manners, hospitality and
benevolence, and counted among his
friends some of the first literary men
and actors of his day. Soon after his
settlement in London he married Eliza
beth Starkey, a girl of humble origin:
They lived happily together, and had
three daughters-Susan, who married
the Earl of Guilford; Frances, who mar
ried the Marquis Of Butte, and Sophia,
mother of the subject of this sketch,
who married Sir Francis Burdett, the
member of Parliament who proposed
the celebrated inquiry into the
state of Coldbath Fields prison,
which resulted in the dismissal OF the
keeper and the complete reformation
of the regulations of that prison. He
doubtless transmitted to his celebrated
daughter many Of his benevolent vir-
tues. Soon after the death OF Mrs.
Coutts, in 1915, Mr.. Coutts fell in love
with the beautiful and accomplished
Miss Harriet Mellon, very popular
actress in comedy in the early part OF
this century. This lady was born in
1775, and was so much younger than
her Opulent suitor that she declined the
match, representing that the forty four
years difference in their ages made
too great barrier to be surmounted.
The enamOred millionaire, however,
successfully persisted in the suit, and
Miss Mellon became the happy wife Of
Mr.. Coutts. In consequence OF the
violent opposition Of his three daughters
to his union with Miss Mellon, Mr..
Coutts disinherited them, and made his
wife sole mistress Of his colossal fortune
at his decease. About five years after
the death of Mr.. Coutts his widow
married the Duke Of st. Albans, Grand
Falconer of England, who was much
Younger than Mrs. Coutts. At her
death she left the Duke an income of
$4,000 year and life interest in
some landed estate. With this eXcep-
ton she, from q delicate sense Of justice,
bequeathed the entire fortune which she
derived from Mr. Coutts to his grand
daughter, Angela Burdett, youngest
daughter of Sir Francis Burdett. The
Duchess of St. Adams, in bequeathing
her fortune to Miss Angela Burdett, de-
sired her to take the name OF COutts .
This lady was born in 1914, and received
the vast legacy Of 100000, 600 in 1887,
since which time she has been conspicu-
Gus for her charitable deeds and humani-
tartan schemes. Her liberalityin estab-
fishing the corps of nurses under Flor
ence Nightingale, in the Crimean War,
is familiar to every one. She is said to
spend her entire income, S1,000,000 or
81, 10000 a year, in her philanthropic
projects. She is an unfailing friend to
the poor, a protector of dumb animals
and founder of churches and schools.
In 1847, ten years after obtaining her
fortune, she endowed a church with par
sOnage and schools attached, in ROch-
ester Row, one of the most neglected
parts of London. She also established
the drinking fountains which are such a
blessing to weary pedestrians; also the
coffee saloons, which are such aids to
the temperance movement. She is so
much revered and beloved by all classes
that the very populace, when exasperated
by poverty to extreme measures Of viO-
lence, protected the home of Miss COutts,
and declared that no hand should be
raised against the peace of their bene-
factor. The benefcent lady, who has
spent her wealth so freely for the i'm
prOvement of human welfare, is by no
means averse to the pleasures of life
Boston Herald.