Elizabeth Rannie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Rannie
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Portrait by David Martin
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| Born | c. 1750 Calcutta |
| Died | June 1847 (aged 96–97) Cornwall, England |
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| Father | David Rannie |
| Mother | Elizabeth Bayley |
Elizabeth Rannie (1750–1847) was a notable British lady. She was married to Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Elizabeth was also the mother of Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville. Her life involved changes in fortune and family connections.
Contents
Elizabeth Rannie's Early Life
Elizabeth was born in Calcutta, India, around 1750. Her father, David Rannie, was a Captain in the British merchant navy. He earned a lot of money trading in India. Her mother was Elizabeth Bayley. Elizabeth also had a younger sister named Janet, born around 1753.
Melville Castle and Family Fortune
In 1760, Elizabeth's father bought Melville Castle. He had made his fortune over 30 years of trading with the East India Company. This company was very powerful in India.
Her father passed away in November 1764 when he was 48. He left his estate and a large sum of money to Elizabeth and her sister Janet. At this time, Elizabeth was only 13 or 14 years old. Her sister Janet later married Archibald Cockburn in 1768.
Marriage to Henry Dundas
On August 16, 1765, Elizabeth Rannie married Henry Dundas. She was 14, and he was 24. Through this marriage, Dundas gained Melville Castle and Elizabeth's fortune. This wealth was a big part of his early success.
Financial Challenges
Sadly, Elizabeth's fortune of £10,000 was lost. Henry Dundas had invested it in a bank called Douglas, Heron & Company, also known as the Ayr Bank. This bank failed in 1772, causing many Scottish landowners to lose their money. Melville Castle had to be mortgaged because of this loss. The family became much poorer.
Henry Dundas also earned money from his work with the city of Edinburgh and the Church of Scotland. He was also a lawyer. In 1766, he became the solicitor-general for Scotland. Elizabeth and Henry lived in Edinburgh and at Melville Castle.
Elizabeth's Children
Elizabeth and Henry Dundas had four children together:
- Elizabeth, born in May 1766. She later married her cousin, Robert Dundas of Arniston. She passed away in 1852.
- Anne, born in September 1768. She also passed away in 1852.
- Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, born in Edinburgh on March 14, 1771. He was their only son and inherited his father's title and Melville Castle in 1811. He died in 1851.
- Montague, born in April 1772. He passed away in 1837.
A portrait of Elizabeth was painted by David Martin in 1770. This painting is now part of the National Galleries Scotland collection.
Divorce and Second Marriage
In October 1778, Elizabeth traveled to East Lothian. She attended a ball and later went to stay with her brother-in-law, Archibald Cockburn.
Soon after, her husband, Henry Dundas, filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized quickly, on November 21, 1778.
Life with Everard Fawkener
Elizabeth married Everard Fawkener on December 2, 1778. This was very soon after her divorce from Henry Dundas.
Everard Fawkener was the son of Sir Everard Fawkener. Sir Everard was an English merchant known for being a friend of the famous writer Voltaire. Through his father, Everard Fawkener met Voltaire in 1774.
Everard Fawkener worked as the Commissioner of Stamps from 1783 until his death in 1803. He got this job through his brother, William Augustus Fawkener. Not much is known about Elizabeth's marriage to Everard. They did not have any children together. The marriage likely ended when he died in 1803.
Later Life and Passing
After Everard Fawkener's death, not much is known about Elizabeth Rannie's life. She never saw her children again. She lived a life with very little money.
Many years later, her son discovered that she was still alive. She was living in Cornwall, England. Elizabeth Rannie passed away there in 1847, at the age of 97.
Elizabeth Rannie's Legacy
Elizabeth Rannie has many notable descendants. Besides her son, Robert Dundas, her grandsons include Henry Dundas, 3rd Viscount Melville and Richard Saunders Dundas.
The title of Viscount Melville continues to be passed down through Elizabeth Rannie's family. The title is named after Melville Castle, which Elizabeth brought into her marriage with Henry Dundas. Melville Castle remained in the Dundas family until the 1980s.
