Beatrice Forbes (O.B.E.)

Beatrice, Countess of Granard, was born Jane Beatrice Mills on 19 July 1883 in Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A. She and her twin, Gladys, were the daughters of financier and Ogden Mills. Her brother, also called Ogden, was the Secretary of the Treasury to President Herbert Hoover.

Beatrice married Bernard, Earl of Granard, on the 14 January 1909. They had four children. Her daughter, Lady Moira, married Count Rossi of Switzerland and Lady Eileen married John, Marquess of Bute. Their principal residence was at Forbes House, Halkin Street, SW1 in London, plus a residence at 73 Rue de Varenne, Paris, France although they put much resources into the completion of the restoration and renovation of Castle Forbes in Newtownforbes. Lady Granard maintained a keen interest in racing thoroughbreds, a passion inherited from her father; the Earl of Granard was the Master of the Horse for King George V of Britain.

Lady Granard was the joint founder and administrator for the Bathurst House Hospital for Officers, Belgrave Square, London. She was also the President of the County Longford Branch of the British Red Cross Society. 

Lady Granard passed away in Paris in 1972. She requested that some of her art works be donated to the Irish State after her death. The Granard Bequest comprises a collection of paintings, fine French furniture and clocks, oriental porcelain and other items from the original collection at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Granard residences in Paris and Longford. Since 1973, several generous additions have been made

Link to British Red Cross entry 01; The Granard Bequest exhibition at Dublin Castle, Longford Leader; The London Gazette, 3rd Supplement 1920; Los Angeles Herald 1918;