The Duchess of Montrose | |
|---|---|
 Portrait byPhilip de László, 1912. | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Violet Graham (1854-09-10)10 September 1854 |
| Died | 21 November 1940(1940-11-21) (aged 86) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | James Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose Lady Helen Graham Lady Hermione Graham Lord Douglas Graham Lord Alasitair Graham |
| Parent(s) | Sir Frederick Graham, 3rd Baronet Lady Jane St Maur |
Violet Hermione Graham, Duchess of Montrose,GBE (10 September 1854 – 21 November 1940) was a British philanthropist andanti-suffragist. She served as president of the Scottish branch of theWomen's National Anti-Suffrage League. Her husband wasDouglas Graham, 5th Duke of Montrose.[1]
Violet Graham was born in London in 1854, the eldest daughter ofSir Frederick Graham, 3rd Baronet of Netherby and Lady Jane Hermione St Maur, daughter ofEdward St Maur, 12th Duke of Somerset. She married the5th Duke of Montrose, a Scottish nobleman, in 1876. Together they lived at the Clan Graham'sBuchanan Castle inScotland.[2]
The Duchess and her husband had five children:[3]
The Duchess was a canopy bearer forQueen Alexandra atthe Queen's coronation.[4][5] In 1911, she was one of four women who carried the canopy overQueen Mary at thelatter's coronation.[2]
The Duchess held several leadership positions with philanthropic organizations, including serving as president of theSoldier's and Sailor's Families Association of Scotland beginning in 1900, vice-president of theTerritorial Force Nursing Service in 1908, and president of Scottish Red Cross beginning in 1909.[1] She was also involved in charitable efforts focused on children. She commissioned a home for underprivileged children built inLoch Lomond in 1891.[6]
TheWomen's National Anti-Suffrage League was founded in 1908, marking the beginning of organized opposition to women's suffrage in the United Kingdom. The Duchess of Montrose became the leader of the Scottish National Anti-Suffrage League in 1910 when it became a formal affiliate of the English organization and was a high-profile advocate for the cause.[7][8] Writing in theAnti-Suffrage Review, the Duchess described the goal of the Scottish league as convincing women "of the danger to the State if votes were given to large numbers of inexperienced women."[9] Graham spoke at the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League's Annual Council in July 1910.[10] She was also member ofMary Ward's Local Government Advancement Committee in 1912.[10]
The Duchess of Montrose was granted an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Glasgow in 1907. She was awarded theGBE in 1918, the second year of the order's existence, while serving as the president of the Scottish branch of theBritish Red Cross Society.[11] Ahigh society profile of the Duchess published in 1904 described her as "the uncrowned queen of Glasgow."[12] Montrose Cape, in theHudson Strait, is named after her.[13]
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