Mary Scott, 3rd Countess of Buccleuch
Mary Scott, 3rd Countess of Buccleuch and Countess of Tarras was a young Scottish peer, the daughter of Francis Scott, 2nd Earl of Buccleuch. At the age of four Mary succeeded to her father's titles, when he died in 1651. She immediately became one of the most desirable matches of the kingdom. On 9 February 1659, aged only eleven years old, she married Walter Scott of Highchester, who was at that time fourteen. He was created Earl of Tarras a year later. Her mother arranged the marriage without proclamation, with a warrant from the presbytery of Kirkcaldy. It created a lot of disapproval and the court ruled that the couple should be separated until Mary was 12 years of age. During their separation they continued a very affectionate correspondence. However, she fell ill and died two years after their reunion, aged thirteen, in 1661 and her titles passed to her sister, Anne.
