Nellie Lisa Melles, 2nd Baroness Burton

Lady Burton was born Nellie Lisa Bass on 27 December 1873 in Rangemore to Michael Bass, a brewer and Liberal politician, and Harriett Georgina Thronewill, an heiress of the Thornewill and Warham company. Lady Burton's grandfather, Michael Thomas Bass, served in the British Parliament. Her great-great grandfather, William Bass, founded Bass Brewery. Her father was created a baronet, of Stafford in the County of Stafford, by Queen Victoria in 1882. In 1886, he was created the first Baron Burton.^{[citation needed]}

In 1894, she married Colonel James Evan Bruce Baillie, of Dochfour in Inverness-shire, with whom she had three children.^[1] Upon her first marriage, she received a gold snuff box from the Prince George, Duke of Cambridge.^[2] Her husband died in 1931. She married a second time to Major William Eugene Melles.^[3] Her second husband died in 1953.^{[citation needed]}

As her father had no sons, Lady Burton succeeded her father, as a hereditary peeress by virtue of a special remainder from 1897,^[4][5] as the second Baron Burton in 1909.^[6] She and her mother lived in Grosvenor Square following her father's death.^[7]

She was an art collector and consigned woven tapestries from 1760 and 1783 that were designed by Jean-François de Troy.^[8][9] She also owned two sculptures, of a nymph and of cupid, designed by Étienne-Maurice Falconet.^[10]

She sold Chesterfield House to Henry Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles in 1919 and Rangemore Hall to the Staffordshire County Council in 1949.^{[citation needed]}

Lady Burton died in 1962.^[10] Her son, Brigadier George Evan Michael Baillie, was killed during World War II, leaving her to be succeeded to the barony by her grandson, Michael Baillie, 3rd Baron Burton.^[4][11]