Lady Susan Cochrane

Susan Lyon, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne (née Cochrane, c. 1709 – 23 June 1754) was a Scottish noble. She was the daughter of John Cochrane, 4th Earl of Dundonald, husband of Charles Lyon, 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and "Scotland's fairest daughter", to quote a chronicler of the time. She married Charles Lyon, 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, but he was killed in an unfortunate brawl at Forfar by Carnegie of Finhavon in May 1728, leaving no heir. The resulting trial is famous for establishing in Scots law the "not guilty" verdict. Later the Countess married her servant and was shunned by her family until she died in Paris leaving a daughter who was left penniless by her rich relatives.

Lady Susanna Cochrane was born the second daughter of John Cochrane, 4th Earl of Dundonald, with "all that rank and wealth and beauty could give were hers by birth". Her mother was Anne Murray, daughter of Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore. Her paternal grandmother was Lady Susanna Hamilton, daughter of the Duke of Hamilton and granddaughter of the Duchess of Hamilton who had had a claim to the Scottish throne (although this was dependent upon the failure of the House of Stewart). Her grandfather was the Earl of Atholl. On both sides "she came from a line of fair women", many of whom it was said (including her mother) "had ranked among the most beautiful in all Scotland".

She had two sisters, Anne and Catherine, and all three were admired as great beauties. In 1723, Anne married James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton, becoming a duchess at sixteen, but died just a year later giving birth to their only child, James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton. Catherine was not long out of the schoolroom before her hand was won by the Earl of Galloway.

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