MONTAGU, Lady MARY WORTLEY (1689 1762). An English poet and letter-writer, eld est daughter of Evelyn Pierrepont (afterwards Duke of Kingston). She was baptized in London, Nay 26, 1689. From her brother's tutor or by herself she learned Latin, and read widely in English drama and romance. When a mere girl she was toasted by her father at the Kit-Cat Chub, and on her appearing there was admitted a member by acclamation. Without the approval of her family she privately married (August 12, 1712) Edward Wortley Montagu, a Whig mem ber of Parliament, with whom she lived for a time in retirement. On the accession of George I. she went to London with her There her beauty and wit attraeted unusual attention at Court. and she was nmeh admired by the wits, especially by Pope. In 1716 appeared sur reptitiously her Court Poems, afterwards called Town Eclogues. The same year she set out with her husband on his embassy to Constantinople. At Adrianople she became interested in inoeula lion for smallpox (1717), and on her return in trodneed the practice into England. During her travels in the East she Wrote her well-known Lc/hrs, delightful in themselves and valuable for the light they throw upon the Manners and customs of the time. II.eturning to England
(17181. the Montagu,: soon settled near Pope at Twickenham. and Lady .:‘Mary became one of the best-known women in London society. Pope had addressed verses to her, and had kept up a cor respondence during her absence. The friendship was now renewed on more intimate terms, but by 1722 they quarreled. Pope seems to have made a declaration of love. which was met with a burst of laughter. Pope afterwards satirized her as 'Sappho' in various poems. Swift lam pooned her in The Capon's Tale (1726). In the Epilogue to the Satires (1738) she is accused by Pope of starving a sister and forswearing a debt, and in the Imitations of Horace (1733) a worse charge is brought against. her (first satire. 2d book, i, 84). For unknown cause she left her husband in 1739, and lived abroad for many years, rhielly in Italy. Iler husband died in 1761, and the next year she returned to England. at the request of her daughter. Lady Bute. She died August 21, 176.2. Consult her Works, edited by her great-grandson. Lord Wharnelifre ( London, 1837: new eds. 1887 and 1893). See INOCULA TION.