Mary Goelet

Mary Goelet
Born 1878
Died 1937
Residence Floors Castle
Title Duchess of Roxburghe
Spouse(s) Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe
Children George Victor Robert John Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe
Parent(s) Ogden Goelet
Mary Wilson

Mary Goelet, Duchess of Roxburghe (a.k.a. May Goelet) (1878-1937) was an American heiress and later Duchess.

Biography

Early life

Mary Goelet was born in 1878. Her father was Ogden Goelet, a prominent heir and landlord in New York City. Her mother was Mary Wilson. She was a niece of Richard Thornton Wilson, Jr. and Grace Graham Wilson.[1]

Adult life

She married Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe in 1903.[2] The 8th Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh settled at Floors Castle, where Mary decorated the fortress with her own collection of art including a priceless series of 17th century Gobelins Manufactory tapestries.[3] After ten years of childlessness, Mary gave birth to a son and heir, George Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe, who succeeded his father in 1932.

At the time of her marriage to the Duke of Roxburghe, Mary Goelet was the wealthiest American heiress, with a dowry of twenty million dollars, exceeded only by Consuelo Vanderbilt in the wealth brought to the transatlantic marriages of the pre-1914 era.

Death

She died in 1937.

References

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