Jane Douglas

Jane Douglas (c. 1700 – 10 June 1761) commonly known as Mother Douglas, was a brothel-keeper in mid-18th century London. Known at the time as "The Empress of the Bawds", her house in Covent Garden attracted customers from the higher echelons of society.

Biography

Early career

Mother Douglas was born around 1700 to a well-to-do Edinburgh family named Marinet. She had three sisters and at least one brother, but nothing more is known of the family. By the time she was 17 she was already working as a prostitute in London under the name Douglas. She worked out of a house in St James's, Piccadilly and was praised by John Gay as "that inimitable Courtesan". She was on intimate terms with many influential people, both men and women, but had a particularly close friendship with John Williams (later 1st Earl FitzWilliam). At some point she took possession of the St. James's house and began to work as a procuress, choosing girls for their elegance, pleasant manners and sexual expertise.

Covent Garden

Lady Jane Douglas

Lady Jane Douglas or Jane Steuart (17 March 1698 – 21 November 1753) was a Scottish noblewoman. She married secretly and had twins abroad at the age of fifty who would inherit the family's riches. This birth was thought incredible and the ensuing long and expensive court case was fought in three countries and it was settled in her favour by the House of Lords in 1769, over 15 years after her death.

Life

Lady Jane Douglas was the daughter of James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas and the only sibling of Archibald Douglas, third marquess and first duke of Douglas. Her maternal grandfather was Robert Kerr, first marquess of Lothian.

When she was 22 the Duchess of Queensberry thwarted the plan for her to marry Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch by marrying him, coincidentally, to another Jane Douglas who was the daughter of James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry and the duchess's sister in law.

Despite several earls and dukes wanting to be suitors this Jane Douglas refused their proposals. She was able to live due to the support of her brother, and despite him she started a romance with the penniless Colonel John Steuart of Grandtully. After two years she heard rumours of his misbehaviour and refused to see him again. After a decade she realised that the rumours were untrue and she and the Colonel were married in 1746 at Drumsheugh without the knowledge of her brother.

Jane Douglas (disambiguation)

Jane Douglas may refer to: