EARLDOM AND FORTUNE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17576, 29 June 1925, Page 1

EARLDOM AND FORTUNE.

OLD MAN’S ROMANTIC CLAIM. 33y Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.—Sydney “ Sun ” Cable. (Received June 20. 0.25 a.m.) LONDON, June 28. The “ Weekly Despatch ” says that Alexander Grant, a septuagenarian ex-school master, is claiming in the Scottish Courts the title and huge fortune of the Earl of Seafield, at present held by the nineteen-year-old Lady Seafield, one of the few Countesses in her own right, whose grandfather lived in humble circumstances in New Zealand, prior to succeeding to the title. Grant claims to be the son of the seventh Earl, who paid for his education at Aberdeen, and only saw his mother once, in 1906. Lord Strathspey, an uncle of Lady Seafield and heir presumptive, says that Grant’s claim is one of several. An American claims the title, and already calls herself the Countess Strathspey. He adds: “I have contemplated claiming the Earldom, but it M ould cost £50,000, which is prohibitive. The trustees of the estate allow me £7OO yearly. I have to rent a house in a London suburb, when the ancestral seats in Scotland are empty.” Sir XX'alter Ogilvie (Kt.) was, in l(il(i, created Lord Ogilvie, and his son James Mas, in 1638 and 16-11, advanced to the Earl of Findlatcr. The Lordship and first Earldom expired; but the 1611 Earldom lasted till the death of the 7th in its line. James, till' Earl of Findlatcr, received two creations of Peerage, the former including a Viscountcy of Seafield, which lapsed concurrently with the Findlatcr Earldom. At the second creation he was awarded the Scottish titles of Earl of Seafield, Viscount Reidhavcn. and Lord Ogilvie of Dcskford and Cullen, this time with remainder to heirs of his estate. Accordingly, on tlie death of the above 7th Earl (Ith of Seafield), the titles of 1701 passed to a cousin, Sir Lewis Alex Grant, the Stli Bart., who forthwith assumed the additional name of Ogilvie, and became the sth Earl of Seafield. The 9th Earl Mas made Baron Strathspey, a title previously granted, O the 7th Earl, hut lapsing on the death of his successor, and wfecli has now branched off as a distinct peerage. The surname a; now properly “ Grant ” only. The present Dowager Countess of Seafield is a daughter of the late Major George T. Evans, of New Zealand. She Mas married in 1871 to flic 10th Earl of Seafield.