MOWTAGU, LADY MARY WORTLEY, was eldest daughter of Evelyn, earl, and after wards (1715) duke of Kingston. She was born about 1690, and is said to have received a classical education. When only eight years of age she was introduced by her father to the famous club, and formally admitted a member. Her fond pleasure-lov ing father allowed her to educate herself. She is even said to have taught herself Latin. She became attached to Mr. E. Wortley Montagu, a member of the house of commons, whose cousin, Charles 3loutagu, was created earl of Halifax, and appointed first lord of the treasury, by George I. As the match was disapproved of by the families, she was obliged to elope before she could marry him. On the accession of George I. she Caine to London with her husband, who was a Whig. Lady Mary's beauty and wit attracted universal admiration at court. She was in habits of familiar acquaintance with Addi son and Pope, the latter becoming her enthusiastic admirer, and writing "flames and raptures" for her, until his passion "came to a climax in an impertinence, and was extin guished by a box on the ear, or some such rebuff." In 1716 Mr. Wortley Montagu was appointetiambassador to Constantinople. He was accompanied by lady Mary, who, on her journey, and during her residence in the Levant, wrote the well-known Letters, which form one of the most delightful books in our language. The weaknesses of a
somewhat vain and capricious temper fade into forgetfulness, when we remember the strong sense, enlightened courage, and generous perseverance which introduced into Europe the practice of inoculation, which she witnessed in Turkey. She had so much faith in its safety. that she tried it first on her own son. See INOCULATION. After her return to England she fixed her residence at Twickenham, and renewed her intimacy with Pope. But political soon led tp personal differences, and these resulted in one of the most famous literary feuds of the 18th century. The immediate occasion of it was the publication by lady Mary of her Town Eclogues. She was fiercely assailed by both Swift and Pope, and was not slow to retaliate. In 1737 she left her country and her husband (fur reasons that are not known), and lived for many years in Italy, chiefly at Lovero, in the province of Venice. Her husband died in 1761. At the request of her dan7hter, afterwards wife of the earl of Bute, she returned to England, where she died 21 Aug., 17G2. A _collected edition of her works, with life, was published by her great-grandson, the late lord Wharncliffe, in 1836, of which a third edition appeared in 1861.