The Osceola times., 1880-03-27
MISS BuRDETT-C -C0UTTS.
How, size Came Into Possession OF Her
vast Fortune.

Nast
Boston Herald.
Miss Burdett-Coutts, known as the
richest single woman in England, and as
a norson of such liberality in the distri-
hntion of her vast wealth as to commend
her 10 the admiration of the civilized
world. came into possession of her for
tune in a very interesting manner. She
seems TO prefer the title of Miss Coutts
10 Baroness Coutts, conferred upon her
Inv Queen Victoria in 1871, in considera-
tinn of her muniticent public charities.
Miss Coutts lived in rather straitened
circumstances during her early years, in
beriting no properly from her rich grand
father. Thomas Coutts, the eminent
banker. born in 174l. At the death of
his brother Peter, Mr.. Coutts assumed
the entire direction of the firm, which,
undcr his control, rose 10 its highest
PROSPERITY. He was a gentleman in
manners hospitality and beneyolence,
and counted among his friends some of
the first literary men and actors of his
Iay. Soon after his settlement in Lon
don he married Elizabeth St1rkey, a
Girl of humble origin. They lived hap
pily together and mad three daughters
Susan, who married the Earl OF Gull
ford. Frances, who married. the Mar
ouis Of Butte, and Sophie, mother of the
subject of this sketch, who married Sir
Francis Burdett, the member of Parlla-
ment who proposed the celebrated IN
ouiry into the state OF Coldbath Fields
Prison. which resulted in the dismissal of
the keeper and the complete reformation
of the regulation Of that prison. lie
doubtless transmitted TO his daughter
many of his benevolent virtues. Soon
after the death of Mrs. Coutts, in 1918,
Mr.. Coutts fell in love with the beautiful
and accomplished Miss Harriet Mellon,
a very popular actress in comedy in the
early part of this century. This lady
WAS born i'm 1875, and was so much
Younger than her opulent suitor that she
declined the match, representing that
the "A years difference in their ages
made too great barrier to be surmount-
ed. The enamored millionaire, how
ever successfully persisted in his 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 disinhcrited 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 mar
ried the Duke Of St Adams, Grand Fal-
coner of England who was much young
er than Mr.. Coutts. At her death she
letl the Duke an income of S50,0O0 Il
wear, and life interest in some landed
estate. With this exception, she, from
a delicate sense of justice, bequeathed
tie entire fortune which she derived
from Mr.. Coutts to his granddaughter
Angela Burlett, daughter Of Sir Francis
Burdett
The Duchess OF st. Adams, in bequeath-
ing her fortune to Miss Angela Burdett,
desired her TO take the name of Coutts.
This lady was born in 1914 and received
the vast legacy of S20,0OO,OOO in 1887,
since which time she has been conspicu-
ous for her charitable deeds and human
itarian schemes. Her liberality in es-
tablishing the corps of nurses under Flo
renee Nightingale, IN the Crimean war;
is familiar to every one. She Is said TO
spend her entire income, 81 100000 or
81 100000 year, for philanthropic Oh
iects. She is an unfailing friend to the
poor, a protector of dumb animals, and
founder of churches and schools. In
lS47, ten years after obtaining her for
tune, she endowed church, with par
sonage and school attached, in Rochester
Row, one Of the most neglected parts OF
London. She also established the drink
ing fountains which are such blessing
to weary pedestrians; also the coffee sa-
looms. which are such aids to the tenn
perance movements. She is so much re-
vered and beloved by all classes that
the very populace, when exasperated 3y
poverty to extreme measures of violence,
protected the home of Miss Coutts, and
declared that no hand should be raised
against the peace of their benefactress.
This bcnefcent lady, who has spent her
wealth so freely for the improvement of
human welfare, is by no means averse to
the pleasures Of life. She has just been
seeking little healthy recreation in a
Yacht voyage up the Mediterranean
with party of distinguished guests, one
of whom, Mr.. Henry Irving, of the Ly-
ceum had an opportunity thus gwen
him of surveying the identical scenes
which he 50 forcibly portrays in enacting
the part Of "Shylock" in the Merchant
of Venice. After returning from the
sunny South and re-entering the Thames
her ladyship's commodious steamer lay
a week Off Gravcsend, where she and
her companions had leisure to study the
vast maritime, coasting and river traffic
Of the port of London, which had great
interest to Miss Coutts, as the condition
of those employed in it had long engaged
her kindly attention.