Harriot Mellon
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Harriot Mellon (born circa 1777, died 1837) was the daughter of strolling players and became an actress, eventually starring at Drury Lane. When she was younger though and appearing at the Duke Street Theatre she attracted the attention of the elderly but very wealthy banker, Thomas Coutts who, with his brother John Coutts, had founded Coutts & Co, the royal bank. She became his mistress until his first wife died 10 years later following which she became his second wife. She was widely celebrated for her beauty, and was painted by George Romney.
In 1822, after Thomas's death Harriot became very wealthy and purchased the lease on a country property four miles away at The Holly Lodge in Highgate with parties there and her town house at 131 Kings Road on the corner of Regency square. She later married the 9th Duke of St. Albans, William, who was twenty years her junior.
On her death in 1837 her property and fortune went to Mr. Coutts' granddaughter Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts.
