Mary Goelet

Mary "May" Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe (née Goelet; 6 October 1878 – 26 April 1937), was an American-born heiress and socialite who married into Scottish nobility.

Mary Goelet was born in 1878. Her parents were Mary Wilson and Ogden Goelet, a prominent heir and landlord in New York City and great-grandson of Peter Goelet, heir to one of the largest fortunes of the time. Her only sibling was a younger brother, Robert, who built Glenmere Mansion.

Through her mother, she was a niece of Richard Thornton Wilson Jr. and Grace Vanderbilt. Through her father, she was a niece of Robert Goelet, a first cousin of Robert Walton Goelet, and a granddaughter of Robert Goelet Sr., co-founder of the Chemical Bank of New York.

In 1897, she was rumored to be engaged to William Montagu, the 20-year-old 9th Duke of Manchester. He later married a different American, Helena Zimmerman, daughter of industrialist Eugene Zimmerman of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1900.

In late December 1898, she was rumored once more to be engaged to Viscount Crichton, eldest son and heir of 4th Earl Erne.

On 10 November 1903, she married Henry John Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe. He was the eldest son of the 7th Duke of Roxburghe and Lady Anne Spencer-Churchill (fourth daughter of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and Lady Frances Vane). His first cousins were the 9th Duke of Malborough (who famously married Consuelo Vanderbilt) and Sir Winston Churchill. After ten years of childlessness, Mary gave birth to a son and heir:

The Duchess of Roxburghe died on 26 April 1937, in London.

The Duke and Duchess settled at Floors Castle, where Mary decorated the ancient residence with her own collection of art including a priceless series of 17th century Gobelins Manufactory tapestries.