Beckford, 10th Duchess of Hamilton, Susan Euphemia
British, 1786 - 1859
Biography
Susan Euphemia was the daughter of William Beckford [d. 1844] of Fonthill Abbey and his wife Lady Margaret Gordon, daughter of George, 5th Earl Aboyne and Lady Margaret Stewart. On 26 April 1810 Susan married Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton [1767-1852]. The son of Archibald, 9th Duke of Hamilton and 6th Duke of Brandon, and his wife Lady Harriet Stewart, daughter of the 6th Earl of Galloway, Alexander Hamilton-Douglas succeeded his father as Duke in 1819. Spending much time in Italy, he amassed a large number of art treasures with which he filled the family estate, known as Hamilton Palace (a large portion of the collection was offered for sale by the 12th Duke at auctions held in June and July of 1882, after which the house was demolished). A Knight of the Order of the Garter, Lord Lieutenant for county Lanark, and a Fellow of both the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries, Alexander also served as a member of Parliament for Lancaster from 1802-6, followed by an appointment as Ambassador to Russia. The 10th Duke and Duchess had a daughter, Susan Harriet Catherine, and a son, William Alexander Anthony Archibald, who succeeded his father as 11th Duke of Hamilton and 8th Duke of Brandon. [Compiled from sources and references recorded on CMS]