A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Mellon, Harriet, Duchess of St. Albans
MELLON, HARRIET, DUCHESS OF ST. ALBANS,
Was born in Westminster, about 1775. Her father was a gentleman in the service of the East India Company, but died before the birth of his daughter. Her mother afterwards married Mr. Entwistle, a professor of music, and leader of the band at the York theatre. Miss Mellon was educated for the stage, and made her debut at Drury-Lane, London, in 1793; she was considered at the head of the second-rate actresses, and was often intrusted with first-rate comic characters. In 1815, Miss Mellon married Mr. Coutts, a wealthy banker, who had long been attached to her; and, at his death, in 1822, he left her his immense fortune. Mrs. Coutts afterwards married the Duke of St. Albans, a man much younger than herself. On her death, she left most of the property to Miss Burdett, daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, on the condition that the young lady should bear, in addition to Burdett, the surname and arms of Coutts.