Jane Gordon, Duchess of Gordon

Jane Gordon, Duchess of Gordon was a Scottish Tory political hostess. Together with her husband Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon, and son George, Marquess of Huntly, she founded the Gordon Highlanders in 1794, a British Army infantry regiment which existed until 1994. Jane had placed a bet with George, the then-Prince of Wales that she could raise more men than he could. Although 45 by then, she was still extremely attractive, upon which she based her recruiting technique: She wore a military uniform and a large black feathered hat, touring Scotland to organise reels. Anyone who joined the reel joined the army and received the King's shilling, the recruiting payment, from between the Duchess' lips by kissing her.