Lady Susan Harriet Grant-Suttie facts for kids

Lady Susan Harriet Grant-Suttie (born Innes Ker; 13 November 1837 – 16 October 1909) was an important Scottish noblewoman. She was also a kind helper of others (a philanthropist) and a local government official (a parish councillor).

Her Life Story

Lady Susan was born on 13 November 1837. Her birthplace was Floors Castle in Kelso, Scotland. Her parents were James Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe and Susanna Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe.

When she was 19, on 6 August 1857, she married James Grant-Suttie. He was the son of Sir George Grant-Suttie, who was the 5th Baronet of Balgone and Prestongrange. A Baronet is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family.

The couple first lived in the Mansion House of Maines in Chirnside, Berwickshire. They had five children together: three daughters and two sons.

Moving to Prestongrange

In 1878, Lady Susan's father-in-law and husband both passed away. Her son, George, who was only eight years old, became the 7th Baronet. There were some legal issues about the family's inheritance. These were finally sorted out in 1881 by the Court of Session, which is a high court in Scotland.

After this, Lady Susan and two of her children moved to Prestongrange House in Prestonpans. This was sometime between 1881 and 1891.

Helping the Community

Lady Susan quickly became very involved in the town of Prestonpans. She joined the local church, which is now called Prestongrange Parish Church. She also helped a lot with planning and raising money for a new town hall. This was important for the growing mining town.

She was also key in setting up a new coffee house and a fun place for working men in Prestonpans. This new center opened in July 1887. It gave them a safe and relaxing place to spend their time.

Her Photos

The National Portrait Gallery in London has a photograph of Lady Susan. The Royal Collection Trust also owns a special hand-coloured photo of her. In this picture, she is with her daughter Victoria. Victoria was a god-daughter of Queen Victoria herself.

A Woman in Politics

In April 1895, Lady Susan Grant-Suttie was chosen as a Parish Councillor for the Prestonpans' Landward Area. A Parish Councillor is someone who helps manage local services and issues for a town or area.

This was a very special achievement for her. At that time, only men were allowed to vote in elections. This was 23 years before the Representation of the People Act of 1918, which finally gave many women the right to vote. Lady Susan continued to serve as a parish councillor for the rest of her life. This shows how dedicated she was to her community.

Her Passing

Lady Susan passed away at Prestongrange House on 16 October 1909. She was 71 years old and had been ill for a short time. Her funeral was held at Prestonpans Parish Church on 21 October 1909.

As a sign of respect, all the shops and businesses in Prestonpans closed at midday. People from the town lined the streets as her funeral procession went by. Her body was then taken by a special train to Dunbar, where she was buried. In 1911, a special plaque was put up in Prestonpans Parish Church to remember her.