Doris Harcourt


Doris Mary Thérèse Baring, Baroness Ashburton was an English socialite, part of the "Bright Young Things" of the early 20th century.

Early life

Doris Mary Thérèse Harcourt was born on 30 March 1900, the daughter of Lewis Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt, and Mary Ethel Burns. Her mother was the daughter of Anglo-American banker Walter Hayes Burns and the former Mary Lyman Morgan.
At 18 months, they found that Doris Harcourt had a weak leg and she was subjected to electric shock treatment and steel supports were put in her boots.

Personal life

On 17 November 1924, she married Alexander Baring, the only son of Francis Baring, 5th Baron Ashburton and the former Claire Hortense. After his father died in 1938, he became the 6th Baron Ashburton. Together, they had two sons:
Through her marriage, the Baring family acquired the famous Harcourt emeralds.
She died in 1981.