Susan Lyon, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne
Susan 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 killed in an unfortunate brawl at Forfar by Carnegie of Finhavon 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 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". She had two sisters, Anne and Catherine, and all three were admired as great beauties. 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 the 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" when he won her for his bride. Miss Ann Stuart, writing in August 1725, describes the marriage-dress of the beautiful Lady Susan Cochrane, thus :— "Lest you have not got a particular account of my Lord Strathmore's marriage, I will give you the best I can. He was the fondest lover ever I saw, and I believe as fond a husband. He has got a very fine woman, I am persuaded, and I think extream handsome; she has a mighty prity face, but indeed the siklyest pale one that can be; she is tall, well shaped, and has a graceful easie genteel air ... My Lady Strathmore had a blue and silver rich stuff gown and petecoat; a blue silk, trimmed to the pocket-holes with silver net; and a pale yellow, trimmed with two rows of open silver