The Scottish Governess Who Tamed a Czar... and Lost a Fortune
- Will Allan
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
The life of Catherine McKinnon is a story that sounds like it came straight from a historical novel. From a humble beginning on a remote Scottish island to becoming a trusted governess to the Russian Imperial family, her journey is a captivating tale of influence, loyalty, and a lost fortune.
From a Humble Scottish Isle to the Heart of the Russian Empire
Catherine's journey began far from the opulent palaces of St. Petersburg. Born around 1778 in the village of Uisken on the Ross of Mull in Argyll, Scotland, she was known affectionately in Gaelic as 'Catriona Bheag', or 'Little Catherine'. ! In 1804, at the age of 26, she embarked on a life-changing voyage to Russia. Her career path wasn't a direct line to royalty; she first served as a governess to an expatriate family. Her success there, however, opened the door to the highest circles of power. It was a testament to the power of personal reputation that she was eventually invited to join the Imperial household itself.
The Czar's "Highland Nurse"
Catherine's most significant charge was the young Grand Duke Alexander, who would one day become Czar Alexander II, the "Czar-Liberator." Her role went beyond simple caretaking; she was his "nursery governess," responsible for his intellectual and cultural education. Her influence was so profound that Alexander II later credited her with his fluency in English. This was part of a larger trend in the Russian court, where foreign educators, particularly from Britain, were hired to impart Western culture and language to the future rulers of the empire.
The bond between Catherine and the Imperial family was deep and lasting. Decades after her death, her memory was honored in a truly remarkable way. In 1892, Alexander II’s son, Czar Alexander III, ordered a tweed suit to be made in her honor from the very village of her birth on the Isle of Mull. This extraordinary gesture—a direct link from a Russian Czar to a tiny Scottish village—is a powerful symbol of the respect and affection she earned.
The Saga of the Lost Fortune
However, Catherine's life wasn't without its own tragedy, a story of a substantial fortune won through loyal service but lost to circumstances beyond her control. Over her decades in Russia, she accumulated considerable savings. In 1841, she made a fateful decision to lend 20,000 roubles to a Russian Princess. The money ultimately went to a colonel in the Emperor’s Guard, and she departed Russia a few years later, trusting in the Bills of Exchange she held.
Unfortunately, the Russia she left was a land in flux, and the colonel she had entrusted her fortune to was living far beyond his means. Catherine died in 1858 in Florence, Italy, at the age of 80, having never received the money she was owed. Her personal misfortune was a reflection of a larger societal shift in Russia, as the power and wealth of the old landed gentry began to wane.
The saga didn't end with her death. For decades, her legitimate descendants in Scotland and Canada fought to reclaim the money, even getting the British government involved in 1865. The legal battle dragged on for so long that in 1885, a Scottish newspaper, the Oban Times, wrote about the elusive fortune, questioning when, if ever, it would be recovered.
A Legacy of Influence and Intrigue
Catherine McKinnon's story is a fascinating glimpse into the human side of history. It's a tale of an ordinary woman from a remote corner of the world who, through skill and character, became an integral part of one of the world's most powerful royal courts. Her life stands as a testament to the powerful, yet often overlooked, role of individuals in shaping the course of history—a woman whose influence on an emperor was perhaps even greater than the fortune she lost.
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