1. Life
Joan Canning's life was marked by her distinguished family background, her marriage to a prominent political figure, and her later elevation to the peerage.
1.1. Early Life and Family Background
Joan Scott was born in Scotland around 1776 or 1777. She was the daughter of Major-General John Scott and Margaret Dundas. Her mother, Margaret Dundas, was herself the daughter of Robert Dundas of Arniston, the younger. Joan had two sisters: Henrietta Bentinck, Duchess of Portland, who became the Duchess of Portland, and Lucy, who married Francis Stuart, 10th Earl of Moray.
1.2. Marriage and Children
On July 8, 1800, Joan Scott married George Canning (1770-1827) at St George's, Hanover Square on Hanover Square, London. The wedding was witnessed by notable figures of the time, including John Hookham Frere and William Pitt the Younger.
Together, Joan and George Canning had four children, three sons and one daughter:
- George Charles Canning (born April 25, 1801; died March 31, 1820) at the age of 18 from consumption.
- William Pitt Canning (born 1802; died September 25, 1828) from drowning in Madeira, Portugal.
- Harriet Canning (born April 13, 1804; died January 8, 1876). She married Ulick John de Burgh, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde and had children.
- Charles John Canning (born 1812; died 1862). He later succeeded his mother as the 2nd Viscount Canning and was subsequently created the 1st Earl Canning.
1.3. Creation as Viscountess Canning
Nearly six months after her husband George Canning's death on August 8, 1827, Joan Canning was granted a peerage in her own right. On January 22, 1828, she was created the 1st Viscountess Canning of Kilbraham, a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The patent for this viscountcy included a special remainder, stipulating that the title would pass to the heirs male of her late husband, ensuring the continuation of the Canning name in the peerage.
1.4. Later Life
After receiving her viscountess title, Joan Canning resided at the family's London home at 10 Grosvenor Square in Mayfair. She lived there with her youngest son, Charles John Canning, until her death.
2. Death
Joan Canning, 1st Viscountess Canning, died on March 14, 1837, at her residence, 10 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London. She was buried nine days later, on March 23, 1837, at Westminster Abbey, a resting place for many of Britain's most prominent figures. Upon her death, her youngest son, Charles John Canning, succeeded her, becoming the 2nd Viscount Canning.
3. Arms
The heraldic arms associated with Viscountess Canning reflect her noble status. As a viscountess in her own right, she would have been entitled to bear a coronet of a viscount, typically depicted above the shield of arms. This coronet is a circlet of gold, chased as if jeweled, with six large silver balls upon the rim, four of which are visible in representations.
