Susanna Keck born Lady Susan Hamilton (bap. 1706 – 1755) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

political manager. She sided with the whigs and she took a strong interest in the 1754 general election in Oxfordshire.

Life

Keck was baptised in 1706. Her parents were Hon. Elizabeth Gerard (only daughter and heiress of

Digby Gerard, 5th Baron Gerard There have been three baronies created for the Gerard family who lived historically at Bryn, Greater Manchester, Bryn, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire and Kingsley, Cheshire, in the 13th century. The third and current barony was created in 1876 ...

, and

James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton Lieutenant General James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton and 1st Duke of Brandon (11 April 1658 – 15 November 1712) was a Scottish nobleman, soldier and politician. Hamilton was a major investor in the failed Darien Scheme, which cost many of ...

. Keck was a strong supporter of the Whigs. She regarded the Whigs' opposition as "Jacobites in disguise". She had a forthright approach, and she was known for being eloquent but she was not regarded as a beauty. She was said to have inherited her intelligence from her mother and her political nouse from seeing the self-seeking politics of other members of her family. She was educated by governesses and she had a quick wit, but barely legible handwriting. Lady Keck was a major player in the 1754 general election in Oxfordshire. which was strongly fought, violent, and very expensive. It was seen as a transition as the populace turned towards the press as a source of information. She was a major player in the election even though it was her husband who was an MP. She was annoyed that the 1750 election had gone to the Whigs and she was determined that it should be righted in 1754. She set out to out-manoeuver the opposition. Her house entertained guests and she was attacked by the popular press. She was said to be "the opposition" and it was said that "Lady S" was the best candidate. Both sides were said to have spent £20,000. Commemorative objects were produced. A pot inscribed "Wenman & Dashwood Forever. 1755" is in the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

, and one inscribed "I say Wenman & Dashwood, friend. What say you?" is in the

Ashmolean Museum The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology () on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is Britain's first public museum. Its first building was erected in 1678–1683 to house the cabinet of curiosities that Elias Ashmole gave to the University of ...

. It was suspected that Keck might have been the author of some of the poems. Lady Keck had said that the campaign might be the death of her and this seemed to be the case. Six weeks after victory was finally declared by parliament for the ruling party, on 3 June 1755, Lady Keck died.

Personal life

Anthony and Susanna Keck and their Family

She married beneath her in 1736 to

Anthony Keck Anthony Keck (1726–1797) was an 18th-century English architect with an extensive practice in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and South Wales. Life Keck was born at Randwick, Gloucestershire in 1726 He designed in the "austere ...

who was an uninterested member of parliament. Keck had been born Anthony Tracy but he had taken the name of Keck as a condition of receiving an inheritance from his great-uncle. As a result, he had the manor of

Great Tew Great Tew is an English village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about north-east of Chipping Norton and south-west of Banbury. The 2011 Census gave a parish population of 156. This qualifies it for an annual parish meeting, not a monthly p ...

, Oxfordshire. He was interested in breeding racehorses. Together, they had two daughters: * Henrietta Charlotte Tracy (1740/1–1817), who married

Edward Devereux, 12th Viscount Hereford Edward Devereux, 12th Viscount Hereford (19 February 1741 – 1 August 1783) was an English hereditary peer who sat in the House of Lords as ''Premier Viscount''. Family He was the son of Edward Devereux, 11th Viscount Hereford and his wife Cathe ...

in 1774. * Susan Tracy (d. 1835), married

Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho Francis Wemyss Charteris, Lord Elcho (31 January 1749 – 20 January 1808) was a Scottish nobleman and member of parliament. Life He was the only son of Francis Charteris, second son of James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss. The fifth Earl's elde ...

, a grandson of

James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss (30 August 169921 March 1756) was the son of David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss. On 17 September 1720, he married Janet Charteris, heiress of the great Colonel Francis Charteris, and they had four children: * Dav ...

, in 1771. Her husband was a keen participant in gambling and horse racing; he died at the Epsom races in 1767 when his horse won a race.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keck, Susanna 1700s births 1755 deaths Year of birth uncertain People from Oxfordshire Whig (British political party) politicians