Social Victorians/People/Mar and Kellie

Also Known As

• Family name: Erskine
• Earl of Mar and Kellie
  • Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie (16 September 1888 – 3 June 1955)
• The family of the Earl of Buchan is also Erskine, or Stuart Erskine.

Organizations

Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie

• Scotts Guard (1887–1892)

Timeline

1892 July 14, Walter Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie and Lady Violet (Susan Violet) Ashley-Cooper married.

1897 July 2, Friday, the Earl and Countess of Mar and Kellie and the Hon. W. Erskine attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House. Violet, Countess of Mar and Kellie (#160 in the list of people who were present); Walter, Earl of Mar and Kellie (#58); the Hon. William Erskine (#696).

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Violet, Countess of Mar and Kellie

Susan Violet Erskine, Countess of Mar and Kellie as Dante's Beatrice. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Henry Holiday, Dante and Beatrice, 1883, Dante meets the historical Beatrice

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Beata Beatrix, 1864-1870

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Violet, Countess of Mar and Kellie was seated at Table 5 at the first supper seating. She was dressed as Beatrice, leading the Italian procession.

Alice Hughes's portrait (left) of "Susan Violet Erskine (née Ashley-Cooper), Countess of Mar and Kellie as Dante's Beatrice" in costume is photogravure #81 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "The Countess of Mar & Kellie as Dante's Beatrice," with a Long S in Countess.

Newspaper Descriptions of Her Costume

• She was Beatrice in the Italian Procession.
• "The Countess of Mar and Kellie's robe was that of a Venetian lady of the Fourteenth Century. It was of old velvet brocade green ciselé gold, with tight-fitting sleeves with large crevé of silk muslin. The overdress, of Princess cut, was of white Sicilian silk with very fine embroidery of pink and gold. Her escutcheon was embroidered at the right side of the under gown, and the overdress was laced on both sides with silver cords studded with pearls. The cordelier was of green and gold, and the coiffure of a small cap of green velvet, embroidered with gold and studded with pearls, a small pearl bandeau, small crown of gold orvfèvrerie [sic], and long veil of mousseline de soie."
• She was dressed "as a fourteenth-century Venetian lady."
• "One of the most noticeable ladies of her [Duchessa di Savoia, the Duchess of Portland's] Court was Lady Mar and Kellie, in white and green and silver, embroidered with gold."
• This description accompanies a flattering line drawing of Violet, Countess of Mar and Kellie in costume (numeral 2 below the drawing, 2^nd row, left, facing ¾ to her left, flowing hair, headdress emphasized): "Made by Alias, 36, Soho Square. ... No. 2. The COUNTESS OF MARL [sic] AND KELLIE, Venetian Lady of fourteenth century — Under robe of old green velvet brocade. Sleeves with large crevé silk muslin. Overdress of white Sicilian silk, finely embroidered in pink and gold."

Walter, Earl of Mar and Kellie

Walter, Earl of Mar and Kellie is not listed as having been seated at supper (the Morning Post lists only the first seating). There is disagreement, perhaps, about his costume. He wore an Elizabethan costume or was Sir Walter Scott:

• He "was Sir Walter Scott."
• He wore an "Elizabethan costume. Black velvet slashed with grey satin, and braided with silver."
• "Earl of Mar and Kellie (Elizabethan), black velvet slashed with grey satin, and braided with silver."
• "The EARL OF MAR AND KELLIE wore an Elizabethan costume in black velvet, slashed with grey satin and braided with silver."

The Hon. William Erskine

The Hon. William Erskine went as an "Incroyable," wearing a "dark blue coat; embroidered vest; black satin breeches; silk stockings."

Demographics

• Nationality: he, Scots; she, British

Family

• Walter Henry Erskine, Earl of Mar and of Kellie (17 December 1839 – 16 September 1888)
• Mary Anne Forbes (1838–22 May 1927)
  1. Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie (29 August 1865 – 3 June 1955)
  2. Elyne Mary Erskine (1866–1891)
  3. Constance Elise Erskine (1869–1959)
  4. Rt. Hon. Sir William Augustus Forbes Erskine (30 October 1871 – 17 July 1952)
  5. Mary Erskine (1872–1873)
  6. Louisa Frances Erskine (b. 1875)
  7. Frances Elizabeth Erskine (b. 1877)
  8. Alice Maud Mary Erskine (b. 1878)
  9. Alexander Penrose Forbes Erskine (1881–1925)

• Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar and 14th Earl of Kellie (29 August 1865 – 3 June 1955)
• Lady Violet (Susan Violet) Ashley-Cooper (18 July 1868 – 16 December 1938)

1. Elyne Violet Erskine (— 2 August 1893)
2. John Francis Ashley Erskine, Lord Erskine (26 April 1895 – 3 May 1953)
3. Francis Walter Erskine (9 January 1899 – 1972)

Notes and Questions

1. The Hon. W. Erskine could conceivably belong to other families whose surname is Erskine, like the Earl of Buchan and the St. Clair-Erskine Forbes family, but no logical person of about the right age whose name begins with W appears in those families. So I'm guessing Sir William Augustus Forbes Erskine (30 October 1871 – 17 July 1952), in part because, even though he was young in 1897, he seems to have the right connections. And he was the brother of Walter, Earl of Mar and Kellie, who was there.