Details

Name

Margaret Mackenzie

Brief Biography

1742-1773, Scottish

Occupation

Businessperson, wife and mother

Description

Lady Margaret Mackenzie (1742–1773) was one of several children of George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromarty and Isabella Gordon, daughter of Sir William Gordon of Dalpholly, 1st Baronet and Isabel Gordon, who were active in politics in Sutherland and then Cromarty. The Earl of Cromarty rose in the Jacobite wars of 1745–1746 but was pardoned. Lady Mary Mackenzie had four husbands, one of whom was Thomas Drayton, who was based in South Carolina. Another sister, Lady Anne Mackenzie, had a husband called Edmond Atkins, who was the President of Council for South Carolina, whilst brothers John and George were soldiers who served in America and India. Meanwhile, Lady Margaret’s aunt, Anne Gordon, was married to Robert Dundas of Arniston, a prominent lawyer and politician. Lady Margaret was on friendly terms with Anne’s daughter, her cousin Henrietta, with whom she corresponded.

It was, perhaps, these connections to transatlantic colonies in South Carolina, where John Glassford of Douglaston already had contacts through his second wife’s family (Anne Nisbet of Dean), and increased trade and imperial security that attracted Glassford to seek Lady Margaret’s affections – as well as mutual attraction – following Anne’s death in 1766. Glassford and Lady Margaret married in 1768 and had three children together: Isabella, James and Euphemia. James later married Isabella Murray, daughter of Sir William Murray of Ochtertyre, 4th Baronet and Augusta Mackenzie, who was Lady Margaret’s sister.

Lady Margaret was added to the Glassford family portrait at some point after her marriage at the expense of Anne Nesbit of Dean who was overpainted to make way for her. Correspondence between Lady Margaret and her aunt, Anne Dundas, suggests that the Glassford children took well to her but were increasingly suspicious of the children Lady Margaret had. (See ‘Lady Margaret Mackenzie speaks – life with the Glassfords’).