Dorothy Smith, Lady Pakington

Dorothy Erskine, Countess of Kellie (née Smith, formerly Barnham, Pakington, and Needham; died 1639) was a public figure.

While married to John Pakington, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, she was involved in a matrimonial dispute that was heard in front of the Attorney General, Francis Bacon who was also her son-in-law.

Dorothy was the daughter of Ambrose Smith of Withcote, Leicestershire, and of Cheapside (silkman to Queen Elizabeth), by his wife Jane Cooe.

In November 1607 she wrote to the Earl of Salisbury from her lodging in Drury Lane thanking him for taking care of two of her daughters.

Salisbury had also helped in the case of her daughter Dorothy aged 12 who Francis Bacon had contracted to marry John Constable, who had recently been knighted.

It was the unpleasant duty of the Attorney General, Francis Bacon (who had married Lady Pakington's daughter, Alice Barnham), to give an opinion against his mother-in-law.