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Name: McMILLAN, Lucie Fairbanks, Lady

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Nee: Webber, dau of Rev George Webber and Charlotte Fairbanks

Birth Date: 26.6.1869 Caledonia, Vermont

Death Date: 4.9.1957 Nairobi

First Date: 1904

Last Date: 1957

Area: Nairobi, 'Chiromo' Mua Farm Est. N'gelani

Married: 1894 Major (Sir) William Northrup McMillan (1872-1925)

Book Reference: Nellie, Empire, Rhodora, Roosevelt, Samson, Debrett, KAD, Red 31, Sixty, Hut, Macmillan, EA & Rhodesia, Stud, Land, Barnes, Racing, All Saints, SS

General Information:

Land - 1911 - Agriculture and grazing, 2665.5 acres - Mua Hills - 10/9/08 - Under Occupation Licence for 2 to 99 years from 1/7/11 - Registered 4/10/11
Nellie - (1936) - 'I stayed in N'bi at Chiromo. Lady Mac was marooned on the Serengeti in floods of rain with 70 miles of black cotton soil on each side of her. Uncle Charles was a tremendous host, however, and gave a succession of dinner parties ..........' {Widow of Sir Northrup Macmillan, an American millionaire. She lived in some state at Chiromo, a comfortable, well appointed house with several acres of garden in Nairobi.}  
Empire - After WW1 an important stud was formed by Lady McMillan at Mua Farms ........ many useful animals have been turned out here under the capable hands of Mr W.B. Thompson. Lady McMillan has now transferred this stud to Limuru, a place more suited to breeding in many ways ..... under the management of Mr Nixon. ......... Racing ....... Lord Delamere and Lady McMillan, the latter having at the present time [1924] the largest string of racehorses in the country, the training of them being under the efficient management of Mr Bramwell, who both trains and rides for his owner.
Roosevelt - Our hostess was herself a good rider and good shot, and had killed her lion ........ At Juja farm many animals were kept in cages. They included a fairly friendly leopard, and 5 lions, 2 of which were anything but friendly. There were 3 cheetahs, nearly full-grown; these were continually taken out on leashes, Mrs McMillan strolling about with them and leading them to the summerhouse. They were good tempered, but they did not lead well.
East Africa & Rhodesia - 12/9/57 - Lady McMillan, CBE, who had lived in Kenya for well over half a century, died at her Nairobi home last week at the age of 88. The daughter of a United States clergyman, the Rev. G.N. Webber, DD, of Massachusetts, she was educated mainly in France, and travelled widely as a young woman. She married in 1894, and in 1903 made the journey up the Nile with her husband, his great friend Charles Bulpett, and Sir Charles Harrington, then British representative in Addis Ababa.
When they reached Kenya the McMillans were so impressed with the country, then in the earliest stages of experimental white settlement, that they decided to remain. Their first farm was the Juja Estate. Later they acquired much other property. In 1918 Northrup McMillan was knighted for his services during the first world war, in which Lady McMillan also did much work for the troops. He died in France in 1925, but lies buried on their Donyo Sabuk estate. In his memory Lady McMillan gave Nairobi the memorial library which bears their name. She also gave the McMillan Nurses' Institute and the Louise Decker Memorial Homes for Old People, and she was a steadfast supporter of many charitable and other organizations.
She was made CBE in 1931. A keen photographer of big game, she continued with that hobby until late in life, and she also controlled her estates until quite recently. The preservation and defence of animals, gardening, and agriculture were among her main interests.
EA Stud Book 1954 - Brood Mares - Thoroughbred - Breeders - Lady McMillan (1929)
EA Stud Book 1954 - Cattle - Guernseys - Lady L. McMillan, Ondiri Farm, Kikuyu
Land - 1912 - Mrs L. McMillan - Grazing and agricultural, 4089.2 acres - Machakos - 20/7/07 {Date of Mr Lucy's original application} - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/3/08 - In substitution for original lease granted to J.P. Lucy in 1909, now surrendered and additional area of 20.2 acres - Registered 13/1/12
Barnes - grave on Donyo Sabuk mountain facing NE approx 4 Kilometres from the entrance to the park - William Northrup McMillan 19/10/1872 - 22/3/1925 and his wife Lucie 26/6/1869 - 4/9/1957 until the day break and the shadows flee
Racing - Owner of 'Defender' by 'Cerval' - 'War Baby' - 1929
Racing - Owner of 'Beaucaire' by 'Gentleman of France' - 'Fayida' - 1930 - Winner of th Produce Stakes in 1930
Racing - Owner of 'Endeavour' - 1930
Racing - Owner of 'Dovedale' - 1930 - Winner of The Spey Royal Cup 1926; Winner of the Kenya St Leger in 1927
Racing - Owner of 'Cervalino' - 1930
Racing - Owner of 'Dovedale' - Winner of the Kenya Derby 1927
Racing - Owner of 'Democracy' - Winner of the Governors Conference Cup in 1926
All Saints - Brass plate in Cathedral says - Lucie McMillan CBE - 1869-1958
Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Lady McMillan, ARRC, Nairobi - Farm 965
Rhodora - Lady McMillan aged 85 in 1950. She crossed Abyssinia with her husband in 1904.
KAD 1922 - Committee, EASPCA.
Sixty - President of the EAWL in 1921
Gazette - Voters List 1936 - Nairobi South - Lady Lucie McMillan, Chiromo

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