Frances Evelyn "Fanny" Boscawen (née Glanville; 23 July 1719 – 26 February 1805) was an English literary hostess, correspondent and member of the Blue Stockings Society.[2] She was born Frances Evelyn Glanville on 23 July 1719 at St Clere, Kemsing, Kent. In 1742 she married Admiral The Hon. Edward Boscawen (1711–1761). When his navy work took him away from home, his wife would send him passages from her journal, some of which were later published.[2][3][4]
Their children were:
Frances' family were aristocratic and members of the court of King George II and King George III. Her son-in-law, Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort was Master of the Horse to Queen Charlotte[6] and her father-in-law Hugh Boscawen, 1st Viscount Falmouth was the brother-in-law of Sir Philip Meadows, Knight Marshal of the King's household whose daughter, Mary, was Maid of Honour to Queen Caroline.[7]
After Boscawen's death in 1761, Frances returned to her London house at 14 South Audley St, where she became an important hostess of Bluestocking meetings. Her numerous guests included Elizabeth Montagu, Horace Walpole, Dr Johnson, Mrs Delany, Anna Letitia Barbauld, James Boswell, Joshua Reynolds - who had painted her husband's portrait - Frances Reynolds, Elizabeth Carter, and later Hannah More, who described her as "sage" (wise) in her 1782 poem The Bas Bleu, or, Conversation, published in 1784. Indeed, Frances had shown wisdom when expressing concern over the notoriously troubled marriage of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Like Frances, the Duchess was a Whig supporter and an associate of the Blue Stockings circle.[8][9][10][11] Frances' widowhood inspired Edward Young's 1761 poem Resignation.[2] She "was widely known in literary London as a model letter-writer and conversationalist, prized for her wit, elegance, and warm heart," according to a present-day scholar.[2][12][13][14][10]
Frances' influence over King George III was notable, persuading him to employ artist John Opie to paint a portrait of Mrs Delany which hung in the royal bedchamber in a frame designed by Horace Walpole.[15] Opie's wife, Amelia, also associated with the fashionable Blue Stockings Society as did Frances' daughter, Elizabeth, Duchess of Beaufort (née Boscawen) (1747-1828).[16][17]
Frances died at home in London on 26 February 1805.[2]
...The Hon. Mrs (Frances Evekyn) Boscawen...
Mrs. Boscawen to Mrs. Delany . ... 3 Sir Philip Meadows (1672-1757) , Knight Marshal of the Palace , the second of that name holding the same office ; married Dorothy Boscawen , sister of Hugh , 1st Viscount Falmouth ... [dau. Mary - Maid of Honour to Queen Caroline]
She was building up a network of relationships within the Devonshire House Circle, at court, and at her social parties, but according to the Honourable Mrs. Boscawen, after the first month it was easy to see that the Duchess was becoming less happy in her marriage and needed something else to fulfill her life. Georgiana started her career at Devonshire House as the hostess for many parties. This position of social hostess that Georgiana held as wife to the Duke would, by the beginning of 1784, develop into her being the political head of the Devonshire House Circle in London. The Devonshire House Circle was where Whig politicians came together to talk about politics, and only the most ardent Whig ladies were allowed into the upper echelon of the Circle.
5th Duke of Devonshire. But Frances Boscawen had already noticed that the duke had been at Ranelagh pleasure gardens without his wife [Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire] a few days after their wedding: a bad augury. In January 1775, the young duchess called on Mrs Delany...
...Mrs Boscawen...Admiral Boscawen...and the lovely and fascinating Duchess of Devonshire, then in the first bloom of youth...
...2 Admiral Boscawen . Lord Camden . ... Portrait of Georgiana , Duchess ...
Through the influence of Mrs Boscawen he painted the royal friend and confidante Mrs Delany, whose portrait in a frame designed by Horace Walpole hung in the royal bedchamber. The approval of the garrulous Walpole may also have proved a decisive factor in his success, since he was to a degree arbiter in questions of connoisseurship in late eighteenth century society. Of Mrs Delanys portrait by Opie he says: There is a new genius, one Opy [Opie], a Cornish lad of nineteen, who has taught himself to colour in a strong, bold, masterly style by studying nature, and painting from beggars and poor children.
the Duchess of Beaufort [nee Elizabeth Boscawen] upon her marriage in 1766 to Henry Somerset ( 1744-1803 ) , 5th Duke of Beaufort , and other literary women of high social standing ( see Elizabeth Eger's summary article , ' Bluestocking Circle ' , - "and her daughter Elizabeth who had become the duchess of Beaufort upon her marriage...In 1776, Hannah Moore had celebrated the Bluestockings in her poem (dedicated to Horace Walpole The Bas Bleu...
....Amelia Opie and Mary Wollstonecraft herself...
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