Scottish noblewoman (1921–2019)
The Countess of Sutherland |
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 Arms of the Countess of Sutherland |
| Tenure | 1 February 1963 – 9 December 2019 |
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| Predecessor | George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower |
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| Successor | Alistair Sutherland |
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| Other titles | Lady Strathnaver |
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| Born | Elizabeth Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
(1921-03-30)30 March 1921
Chelsea, London |
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| Died | 9 December 2019(2019-12-09) (aged 98)
London, England |
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| Residence | Dunrobin Castle |
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| Spouse(s) |
Charles Janson
( m. 1946; died 2006) |
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| Issue | 4 |
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| Parents | Lord Alastair Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
Elizabeth Demarest |
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Elizabeth Millicent Sutherland, 24th Countess of Sutherland (née Sutherland-Leveson-Gower; 30 March 1921 – 9 December 2019[1]) was a Scottish noblewoman. She was the holder of an earldom in the Peerage of Scotland, and was chief of Clan Sutherland.[2]
Early life
Sutherland was born in Chelsea, London, on 30 March 1921, the only child of Elizabeth Demarest (1892–1931), a daughter of Warren Gardener Demarest of New York City, and Major Lord Alastair Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1890–1921), a son of Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 4th Duke of Sutherland.[2]
Her father died while taking part in a big game expedition in Rhodesia, contracting malaria and dying there on 28 April 1921, aged 31. In 1931, her mother married Baron George Osten Driesen; she died three months after their wedding. Sutherland became a ward of her uncle George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland, and when he died without legitimate issue, she succeeded him as the 24th Countess of Sutherland and Lady Strathnaver.[3] The dukedom and the other titles that could only pass in the male line were inherited by the Earl of Ellesmere. She also inherited most of her uncle's large land-holdings, including Dunrobin Castle.[4] She subsequently dropped the double-barrels in her family name, in order to be recognised as chief of Clan Sutherland.
Marriage
On 5 January 1946, Sutherland married journalist Charles Noel Janson (25 December 1917–15 June 2006), and together, they had four children:[2]
- Alistair Charles St. Clair Sutherland, 25th Earl of Sutherland (born 7 January 1947);[5] he married Eileen Baker on 29 November 1968, and they were divorced in 1980. They have two daughters. He remarried Gillian Murray on 21 March 1980, and they have two children.
- The Hon. Martin Dearman Sutherland Janson (born 7 January 1947); he married The Hon. Mary Balfour (daughter of Harold Balfour, 1st Baron Balfour of Inchrye) on 14 February 1974. They have five sons.
- Lady Annabel Elizabeth Hélène Janson (born 16 May 1952) she married John Vernon Bainton, son of Richard Bainton, on 29 October 1982.
- The Hon. Matthew Peter Demarest Janson (8 April 1955 – 5 December 1969)
Later life
She died on 9 December 2019 at the London home she shared with her daughter Annabel. She was aged 98. Her funeral took place at Dornoch Cathedral on 21 December.
