|
Maria Kinnaird (1810–1891) was born on St. Vincent, but was orphaned by a volcanic eruption and she was adopted by the politician Richard Sharp, known as "Conversation Sharp".〔Knapman, D. - 'Conversation Sharp - The Biography of a London Gentleman, Richard Sharp (1759-1835), in Letters, Prose and Verse'. (Private Publication, 2004)〕 Sharp was once considered possibly to be the most popular man in London of his time and she inherited through him not only a considerable fortune but a wide network of influential friends and contacts, particularly among Whig circles. She became a prominent socialite and leading hostess in London during the mid-Victorian period, being described as an ''accomplished, attractive, and intelligent woman''.〔 In 1835 she married Thomas Drummond, who developed the use of Drummond Light in surveying,〔(Limelight - Leeds University ), accessed 18 July 2008〕 and it is said gave him important support during his final years when he was held in high regard as Under-Secretary for Ireland (1835–40). ==Biography== Maria was given every advantage, educationally, socially and culturally and came to know many of the prominent artists, musicians, politicians and socialites of the time.〔see for example: http://lordbyron.org/persRec.php?choose=PersRefs&selectPerson=MaDrumm1891〕 When her adoptive father died she moved into a house in Hyde Park Gardens while maintaining the family retreat, Fredley, in Mickleham, Surrey. As a teenager Maria became very friendly with Dora Wordsworth, a friendship that lasted until Dora's death and some of their correspondence still exists.〔Manuscript Collection MC100,University Library, Davis, California : Correspondence written by Dorothy Wordsworth to Richard Sharp (1759-1835) and Maria Kinnaird between 1826-1849.〕 Maria is said to have possessed an exceptional singing voice of which William Wordsworth was particularly enamoured. Among her many friends were Sydney Smith, the artist J.M.W. Turner, John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, Professor Wheatstone, George Meredith, Charles Babbage, Michael Faraday, Austen Henry Layard, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne, Henry Hart Milman, Richard Westmacott, Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet, Sir Charles Barry, Archbishop Richard Whately, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton and Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell. These men and many others were entertained by Mrs. Drummond at Hyde Park Gardens and at Fredley between the years 1843 and 1891.〔Knapman, D. - 'Conversation Sharp - The Biography of a London Gentleman, Richard Sharp (1759-1835), in Letters, Prose and Verse'.Page 370. (Private Publication, 2004)〕 Her social circle was extensive and notalbe.〔Lord Byron and his Times : http://lordbyron.cath.lib.vt.edu/persRec.php?choose=PersRefs&selectPerson=MaDrumm1891〕〔The Letters of Matthew Arnold. Letter to Mrs Drummond dated 26 June 1867.〕 At one time there were rumours that Maria would marry the historian Thomas Macaulay, and the son of Samuel Romilly was also thought to have been infatuated with her, but in the end she married army surveyor Thomas Drummond at Weston House the impressive home of Sir George Philips, 1st Baronet.〔Stanley H. Palmer, ‘Drummond, Thomas (1797–1840)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 (accessed 11 Jan 2009 )〕 She became her husband's mainstay during a particularly stressful period - leading to his death - when he successfully acted as under-Secretary for Ireland (1835-1840).〔see 'Thomas Drummond: Life and Letters' by O'Brian. Pub. Kegan Paul, Trench & Co. 1889〕 Maria and Thomas had three daughters, Fanny, Mary (who became the wife of Joseph Kay) and Emily. In her declining years it is said that Robert Browning frequently visited Maria at Fredley to read her some of his, and his wife's, poetry. Maria Drummond died in 1891 and was buried in Mickleham churchyard. She left a self-portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds to her daughter, Emily Drummond, who eventually gave it to the National Gallery in London. The painting had originally been purchased by Richard Sharp, from Hester Thrale for just over £128 in 1816.〔(The Streatham worthies ), Thrale.com, accessed 7 January 2009〕 Her biography, ''Maria Drummond - A Sketch'' was written by the author/publisher, Charles Kegan Paul〔see Paul, C. Kegan : 'Maria Drummond - A Sketch' 1891〕 at the request of two of her daughters.〔(Memories ). Charles Kegan Paul, 1899 then 1971, ISBN 0-7100-6944-8〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Maria Kinnaird」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|