to London until 1792. During the 1790s, Lady Sutherland became a leading figure of the social season in London. Her dinner parties and balls were attended by royalty, nobility and leading politicians, both foreign and domestic. She and her husband became close friends with George Canning who considered her beautiful, intelligent, and charming - a view not shared by members of her own class and sex, who thought her overbearing. When not in public, Lady Sutherland's interests included corresponding with Sir Walter Scott and, as she was a gifted artist, painting watercolour landscapes of the Sutherland coast and of Dunrobin Castle, among other subjects. She was also an accomplished oil painter. She drew and etched a series of views in Orkney and the northeast coast of Scotland, which were published between 1805 and 1807. Lady Sutherland spent much time raising her four children. She placed a special emphasis on maximising the wealth of her sons and (as was common at the time) obtaining the best possible marriages for her daughters. Eric Richards observes that she "dominated her sons and probably her husband as well". Shortly before his death in July 1833, her husband was created Duke of Sutherland and Lady Sutherland became the Duchess of Sutherland. After her husband's death, her Scottish estates were managed for her on her behalf. She died, aged seventy-three, on 29 January 1839 at Hamilton Place, Hyde Park, London. She was buried on 20 February 1839, with great pomp at Dornoch Cathedral, in Sutherland. Her comital title passed to her eldest son, George. Family On 4 September 1785, Lady Sutherland married Lord George Leveson-Gower and they had four surviving children: George Granville Leveson-Gower, later Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, styled Earl Gower, later styled Marquess of Stafford, later 2nd Duke of Sutherland (1786–1861) The Lady Charlotte Sophia Leveson-Gower (c. 1788–1870), married Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 13th Duke of Norfolk and had issue. The Lady Elizabeth Mary Leveson-Gower (1797–1891), married Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster and had issue. The Lord Francis Leveson-Gower, later Egerton, later 1st Earl of Ellesmere (1800–1857) Amy Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1805-1810) Died in childhood. Georgiana Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1808-1808) Died at 5 months old. Stillborn son (1810-1810) Notes References 1765 births 1839 deaths British duchesses by marriage Elizabeth Scottish countesses Daughters of Scottish earls Hereditary women peers Highland Clearances Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland 18th-century Scottish people 18th-century Scottish women 19th-century Scottish people 19th-century Scottish women