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Blue Plaque: Harriot Mellon

Roger Amerena, Deputy Mayor Councillor Mo Marsh, the present Duke and Duchess of St Albans

Celebrated for her beauty

A Blue Plaque was unveiled today to mark the home of Harriot Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans (née Mellon; 11 November 1777 – 6 August 1837). She was an actress who starred at many London theatres, including Drury Lane. Mellon was the daughter of strolling players, who went on to be a popular 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.

Blue Plaqur

Well known society hostess

In 1822, after her husband Thomas Coutts death, she became very wealthy, having been bequeathed his entire fortune, including his interest in the family bank. In 1827 she married William Beauclerk, 9th Duke of St Albans, who was 23 years her junior. As Duchess of St Albans, Harriot was a well known society hostess who owned several houses in London and Brighton. When in Brighton, she spent time at her house in Brighton, St Alban’s House, 131 Kings Road, on the corner of Regency Square.

Comments about this page

  • A fine photographic record and a very interesting history which is not, perhaps, widely known locally.

    By Douglas d'Enno (13/08/2016)
  • Pleased to see Harriot has a blue plaque but slightly disappointed that it doesn’t mention that she was born near Cork, Ireland. And this was into great poverty, but she rose to become the richest woman in Regency Britain.

    By Colm O'Neill (10/05/2023)
  • Pleased to see Harriot has a blue plaque but slightly disappointed that it doesn’t mention that she was born near Cork, Ireland. This was not to strolling players but to poor Catholic subsistence farmers. That she rose to become the richest woman in Regency Britain is truly remarkable…

    By Colm O'Neill (10/05/2023)
  • I was for many years on the B&H Blue Plaques panel(unpaid!). There is very limited space on the plaque and the information that is included needs to reflect their B&H connections rather than place of birth.

    By Dr Geoffrey Mead (11/05/2023)

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