Mary Elizabeth Frederica Mackenzie (27 March 1783 – 28 November 1862) was the eldest daughter and heiress of Francis Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth. Also known as "Lady Hood Mackenzie", or by the sobriquet "The Hooded Lassie", she was married in turn to Vice Admiral Sir Samuel Hood and James Alexander Stewart of Glasserton.

Early life

Mary was born at Tarradale Castle in Highland Scotland on 27 March 1783. She was the eldest daughter, and heiress, of Mary (née Proby) and Francis Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth, chief of the Highland Clan Mackenzie, as which he raised the renowned 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Her only sibling to marry was Helen Anne Mackenzie, the wife of Joshua Henry Mackenzie, Lord Mackenzie. Her paternal grandparents were Maj. William Mackenzie (a grandson of Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth and Lady Frances Herbert) and the former Mary Humberston (the daughter and heiress of Matthew Humberston of Humberston). Her maternal grandparents were Mary (née Russel) Proby and The Very Rev. Baptist Proby, 7th Dean of Lichfield (and brother of John Proby, 1st Baron Carysfort). Her uncle was Rev. Charles Proby, the Canon of Windsor.

Personal life

Mary was twice married. She married her first husband, Vice Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, 1st Baronet of the Royal Navy on 6 November 1804 at Saint Michael, Barbados. He was a brother of Capt. Alexander Hood and had been one of Nelson's captains, the famous 'band of brothers'. Sir Samuel, who was also Member of Parliament for Westminster, died, without issue, on 24 December 1814. Less than a month later, her father died on 11 January 1815. Mary succeeded her father and became heiress of his estate; however, his title became extinct as all four of Mary's brothers predeceased her father.

Second marriage

She married James Alexander Stewart of Glasserton, the son of Vice Admiral The Hon. Keith Stewart and a grandson of the Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway. Her husband served as a Member of Parliament for Ross-shire and Ross and Cromarty before becoming the 7th Governor of British Ceylon. Together, they were the parents of: Her husband died on 24 September 1843. Mary died on 28 November 1862 and was buried at Fortrose.

Legacy

Mackenzie was the subject of a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence and a prophecy attributed to the Brahan Seer. She was also responsible for introducing the first evangelical Calvinist preachers to the Isle of Lewis. Mackenzie was Walter Scott's prototype for Ellen Douglas in his narrative poem "The Lady of the Lake".