America and the Peerage - Miss Mary ('May') Goelet, American heiress, who married Henry Innes-Kerr, 8th Duke of Roxburghe in 1903, becoming Duchess of Roxburghe and bringing with her a dowry of some $20 million. Numerous impoverished peers married wealthy American heiresses during this period, who in return for the substantial dowries earned a title and the prestige of being chatelaine of some of the finest stately homes in England. May appears in fancy dress in this photograph. Date: 1903