My picture is of a man who was an ancestor of my family named Simon Fraser Lord Lovat. He lived in Scotland from 1667-1747 and was the 11th Lord of Lovat in the Fraser family. He was also the last person beheaded at the Tower of London. Simon Fraser Lord Lovat had a very distinct condition that affected his hands; his hands were double-jointed which led the tips of his fingers to curl backward. My great-grandfather had the same condition which he thought was interesting because it showed a physical oddity that they shared. Having this historical Scottish figure as a distant relative connects me to part of Scottish history in a way that is very important to my family. My grandmother was very proud of her Scottish heritage and her relation to Lord Lovat. In her home, she hung a portrait of Simon Fraser above her dining room table. When I visited the Tower of London with my family, the Beefeater told us the legendary story of the day Simon Fraser Lord Lovat was beheaded. He said that so many people showed up to witness the beheading that a bandstand fell and killed nine people. Simon Fraser laughed at this and created the famous quote, “Laughing his head off”. 

– N

Relationship:  unknown unknown