Elizabeth Sutherland, 24th Countess of Sutherland

Elizabeth Millicent Sutherland, 24th Countess of Sutherland (née Sutherland-Leveson-Gower; 30 March 1921 – 9 December 2019[1]) was a Scottish noblewoman. She was the holder of an earldom in the Peerage of Scotland, and was chief of Clan Sutherland.[2]


The Countess of Sutherland
Countess of Sutherland
Arms of the Countess of Sutherland
Tenure1 February 1963 – 9 December 2019
PredecessorGeorge Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
SuccessorAlistair Sutherland
Other titlesLady Strathnaver
BornElizabeth Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
(1921-03-30)30 March 1921
Chelsea, London
Died9 December 2019(2019-12-09) (aged 98)
London, England
ResidenceDunrobin Castle
Spouse(s)
Charles Janson
(m. 1946; died 2006)
Issue4
ParentsLord Alastair Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
Elizabeth Demarest

Early life

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Sutherland was born in Chelsea, London, on 30 March 1921, the only child of Elizabeth Demarest (1892–1931), a daughter of Warren Gardener Demarest of New York City, and Major Lord Alastair Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1890–1921), a son of Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 4th Duke of Sutherland.[2]

Her father died while taking part in a big game expedition in Rhodesia, contracting malaria and dying there on 28 April 1921, aged 31. In 1931, her mother married Baron George Osten Driesen; she died three months after their wedding. Sutherland became a ward of her uncle George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland, and when he died without legitimate issue, she succeeded him as the 24th Countess of Sutherland and Lady Strathnaver.[3] The dukedom and the other titles that could only pass in the male line were inherited by the Earl of Ellesmere. She also inherited most of her uncle's large land-holdings, including Dunrobin Castle.[4] She subsequently dropped the double-barrels in her family name, in order to be recognised as chief of Clan Sutherland.

Marriage

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On 5 January 1946, Sutherland married journalist Charles Noel Janson (25 December 1917–15 June 2006), and together, they had four children:[2]

  • Alistair Charles St. Clair Sutherland, 25th Earl of Sutherland (born 7 January 1947);[5] he married Eileen Baker on 29 November 1968, and they were divorced in 1980. They have two daughters. He remarried Gillian Murray on 21 March 1980, and they have two children.
  • The Hon. Martin Dearman Sutherland Janson (born 7 January 1947); he married The Hon. Mary Balfour (daughter of Harold Balfour, 1st Baron Balfour of Inchrye) on 14 February 1974. They have five sons.
  • Lady Annabel Elizabeth Hélène Janson (born 16 May 1952) she married John Vernon Bainton, son of Richard Bainton, on 29 October 1982.
  • The Hon. Matthew Peter Demarest Janson (8 April 1955 – 5 December 1969)

Later life

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She died on 9 December 2019 at the London home she shared with her daughter Annabel. She was aged 98. Her funeral took place at Dornoch Cathedral on 21 December.

Arms

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Coat of arms of Elizabeth Sutherland, 24th Countess of Sutherland
 
Coronet
A Coronet of an Earl
Crest
A Cat-a-Mountain sejant rampant proper
Escutcheon
Gules three Mullets Or (as the ancient arms of Sutherland of that Ilk) on a Bordure of the second a Double Tressure flory counterflory of the first (as an Honourable Augmentation).
Supporters
On the dexter side a Savage Man wreathed about the head and loins with Laurel proper, holding in his exterior hand a Club Gules resting upon his shoulder, and on the sinister side another like Savage sustaining in his sinister hand and against his shoulder, upon a Staff ensigned by the Coronet of an Earl a Bannerette Gules, charged of three Mullets Or.
Motto
Sans Peur (Without fear)

References

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  1. ^ "Countess of Sutherland dies". 11 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 3824. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
  3. ^ "Clan Sutherland Chief". Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Who owns Scotland?". The Scotsman.
  5. ^ "Person Page - 1004". Retrieved 14 August 2019.
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Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Countess of Sutherland
1963–2019
Succeeded by
Alastair Sutherland