Coutts

Coutts, THOMAS, banker, was born in 1735 in Edinburgh, the son of a merchant and banker, who was lord provost in 1742-44. With his brother James he founded the banking-house of Coutts and Co. in London, and on the latter's death in 1778 became sole manager. Keen and exact in matters of business, although charitable and hospitable in private, he left a fortune of some £900,000 at his death in 1822. By his first wife, who had been a servant of his brother's, he had three daughters, who married respectively the Earl of Guilford, the Marquis of Bute, and Sir Francis Burdett, Bart.; in 1815 he married Miss Mellon the actress. See BURDETT-COUTTS.