Susan Lyon, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne

Susanna Lyon, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne (née Cochrane, – 23 June 1754) was a Scottish noble. She was the daughter of John Cochrane, 4th Earl of Dundonald, wife of Charles Lyon, 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and "Scotland's fairest daughter", to quote a chronicler of the time. She married Charles Lyon, 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, but he was accidentally killed in an brawl at Forfar by James Carnegie of Finhaven in May 1728, leaving no heir. The resulting trial is famous for establishing in Scots law the "not guilty" verdict. Later, the Countess married her servant and was shunned by her family until she died in Paris, leaving a daughter who was left penniless by her rich relatives.

Early life Lady Susanna Cochrane was born the second daughter of John Cochrane, 4th Earl of Dundonald, with "all that rank and wealth and beauty could give were hers by birth". Her mother was Anne Murray, daughter of Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore. Her paternal grandmother was Lady Susanna Douglas-Hamilton, daughter of the Duke of Hamilton and granddaughter of the Duchess of Hamilton, who had had a claim to the Scottish throne (although this was dependent upon the failure of the House of Stewart). Her great-grandfather was the 1st Marquess of Atholl. On both sides, "she came from a line of fair women", many of whom it was said (including her mother) "had ranked among the most beautiful in all Scotland". In 1723, Anne married James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton, becoming a duchess at sixteen, but died just a year later, giving birth to their only child, James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton. Catherine was not long out of the schoolroom before her hand was won by Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway.

Marriage to the Earl

Susanna, the loveliest of the "three Graces" - "Scotland's fairest daughter", to quote a chronicler of the time, had high-placed lovers by the score almost before she had graduated into long frocks. Charles Lyon, 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, was accounted the "luckiest man north of the Tweed"

Her disowned daughter

The Countess' rich relatives disowned her daughter, and the child grew up in the Rouen convent. Then, in 1761, a "rough seafaring man" called at the convent with a letter from her father demanding the return of his daughter to Leith. The girl (Susan Janet Emilia) went to the father she had never seen, who now lived with a new wife and family and was a livery-stable keeper at Leith.

Emily was not happy; It is said she was treated by her stepmother with coarseness and brutality. One morning, Emilia slipped stealthily away with all her few possessions. For days, it is said, this descendant of Scotland's nobles tramped through the country, sleeping in barns or craving the shelter of the humblest cottage, and, when her money was exhausted, even begging from door to door.

Finally, she came across a farmer who invited her to make her home with them. Eventually, Emily married the farmer's only son, and they had many children.

It was not until 15 February 1766 that the Countess' will was finally proven by her lowly born husband. But not until Emily's old age did a few of her great relatives condescend to acknowledge her existence. The Earls of Galloway and Dunmore, the Duke of Hamilton, and Mrs. Stewart Mackenzie combined to provide her with an annuity of £100.