Life Maria Edgeworth

1 life

1.1 life
1.2 travels
1.3 later life

life
early life

maria edgeworth born @ black bourton, oxfordshire. second child of richard lovell edgeworth (who fathered 22 children 4 wives) , anna maria edgeworth (née elers); maria aunt of francis ysidro edgeworth. spent years mother s family in england, until mother s death when maria five. when father married second wife honora sneyd in 1773, went him estate, edgeworthstown, in county longford, ireland.

maria sent mrs. lattafière s school in derby after honora fell ill in 1775. after honora died in 1780 maria s father married honora s sister elizabeth (then socially disapproved , legally forbidden 1833 until deceased wife s sister s marriage act 1907). maria transferred mrs. devis s school in london. father s attention became focused on in 1781 when lost sight eye infection. returning home @ age of 14, took charge of many younger siblings , home-tutored in law, irish economics , politics, science, , literature father. started lifelong correspondences learned men, members of lunar society.

she became father s assistant in managing edgeworthstown estate, had become run-down during family s 1777–1782 absence; live , write there rest of life. bond strengthened, maria , father began lifelong academic collaboration of more able , nimble mind. present @ edgeworthstown extended family, servants , tenants. observed , recorded details of daily irish life, later drawing on experience novels irish. mixed anglo-irish gentry, particularly kitty pakenham (later wife of arthur wellesley, 1st duke of wellington), lady moira, , aunt margaret ruxton of black castle. margaret supplied novels of anne radcliffe , william godwin , encouraged in writing.

travels

in 1798 richard married frances beaufort, daughter of daniel augustus beaufort, instigated idea of travelling england , european continent. frances, year younger maria, became lifelong confidante. family travelled first london in 1800.

in 1802 edgeworths toured english midlands. travelled continent, first brussels , consulate france (during peace of amiens, brief lull in napoleonic wars). met notables, , maria received marriage proposal swedish courtier, count edelcrantz. letter on subject seems cool, stepmother assures in augustus hare life , letters maria loved him , did not on affair quickly. came home ireland in 1803 on eve of resumption of wars , maria returned writing. tales of fashionable life, absentee , ormond novels of irish life. edgeworth extremely popular author compared contemporary writers jane austen , sir walter scott. earned more them, , used income siblings.

on visit london in 1813, received literary lion, maria met lord byron (whom disliked) , humphry davy. entered long correspondence ultra-tory sir walter scott after publication of waverley in 1814, in gratefully acknowledged influence, , formed lasting friendship. visited him in scotland @ abbotsford house in 1823, took on tour of area. next year, sir walter visited edgeworthstown. when passing through village, 1 of party wrote, found neither mud hovels nor naked peasantry, snug cottages , smiles about. counterview provided visitor stated residents of edgeworthstown treated edgeworth contempt, refusing feign politeness.

later life

maria edgeworth, c. 1841

richard edgeworth comparatively fair , forgiving in dealings tenants , actively involved in estate s management. after debating issue economist david ricardo, maria came believe better management , further application of science agriculture raise food production , lower prices. both richard , maria in favour of catholic emancipation, enfranchisement catholics without property restrictions (although admitted against own interest), agricultural reform , increased educational opportunities women. particularly worked hard improve living standards of poor in edgeworthstown. in trying improve conditions in village provided schools local children of denominations.

after father s death in 1817 edited memoirs, , extended them biographical comments. active writer last.

she worked relief of famine-stricken irish peasants during irish potato famine. wrote orlandino benefit of relieve fund. letters quaker relief committee provide vivid account of desperate plight facing tenants in edgeworthstown, extreme conditions under lived, , struggle obtain whatever aid , assistance alleviate plight. through efforts received gifts poor america.

during irish famine edgeworth insisted of tenants had paid rent in full receive relief. edgeworth punished of tenants voted against tory preferences.

with election of william rowan hamilton president of royal irish academy, maria became dominant source of advice hamilton, particularly on issue of literature in ireland. suggested women should allowed participate in events held academy. guidance , help, hamilton made edgeworth honorary member of royal irish academy in 1837, following in footsteps of louisa beaufort, former member of academy , relative of hers.

after visit see relations in trim, maria, in eighties, began feel heart pains , died of heart attack in edgeworthstown on 22 may 1849.