I lived from 1689-1762.
I was from England, and am in the English category.
An eighteenth century aristocrat, traveller and writer of poems and letters. particularly known for letters reflecting on her experience of Eastern Life.
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The daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont the fifth Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull Lady Mary was born into a wealthy family in either April or May of 1689 at St Pauls Church in Covent Garden. In 1792 She eloped with Edward Wortley Montagu grandson of the 1st Earl of Sandwich a man whom her father had rejected as a son-in-law. In 1715 Edward became the Member of Parliament for Westminster and afterwards was made a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. Lady Mary soon become a popular figure at court.
In 1716 Lady Mary accompanied her husband to Istanbul where her he had been made Ambassador until 1718. From here she wrote her observations of Eastern Life in the Turkish Embassy Letters. These letters have been suggested as an inspiration for many later female travellers and writers.
She is known for having communicated with Alexander Pope which ended in a string of suppose insults on both sides. For example A Pop upon Pope was considered to be written by her and Pope included an unpleasant reference to her as Sappho in The First Satire of the Second Book of Horace.
Lady Mary had romantic correspondance with a Frenchman named Remond. Remond asked her to invest money for him in the South Sea stock but the value fell to half the price and he attempted to get back the original sum with a threat of telling her husband about their correspondance.
In 1739 Mary left her husband never to see him again even though they continued to write to each other. She lived at various places for example Avignon, Brescia, Gottolengo and Lovere. After being struck with smallpox it is suggested that her suffering was so strong that there was the possibility of madness.
In 1762 she was convinced to return to England by her daughter Mary, Countess of Bute now the wife of the Prime Minister. She died in the same year in London.
Scholarly editions of her works only appeared during the late 20th century.
Popular poetry
Between your sheets you soundly sleep
Nor dreams of vigils that we lovers keep
18 lines
At length, by so much importunity press'd,
Take, C{-}{-}, at once, the inside of my breast;
53 lines
Written in July, in an arbour
14 lines
Think not this paper comes with vain pretense
To move your pity, or to mourn th'offense.
79 lines
Though I never got possession,
'Tis a pleasure to adore;
12 lines
L'Homme qui ne se trouve point, et ne se trouvera jamais.
23 lines
SILLIANDER and PATCH.
THOU so many favours hast receiv'd,
151 lines
Sing, gentle maid — reform my breast,
And soften all my care;
6 lines
To all you ladies now at Bath,
And eke, ye beaux, to you,
34 lines
Though a strong vanity may you persuade -- -
You are not for a politician made;
30 lines
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