Anne Parsons
Anne Maynard | |
---|---|
Born | Anne Parsons c. 1735 |
Died | 1814/5 Paris, France |
Nationality | British |
Other names | Nancy Parsons; Mrs Horton |
Known for | Successful courtesan |
Spouse | Charles Maynard, 2nd Viscount Maynard |
Partners |
Anne, Viscountess Maynard (also known as Anne Parsons, Nancy Parsons, Nancy Maynard, and Mrs Horton (c. 1735 – 1814/1815) was a
Life
Her birth is estimated to be 1735 and one account says that her father was a tailor in Bond Street in London. She is thought to have first been a prostitute. She is said to have gone to Jamaica with a man called Horton or Houghton, and according to some accounts they married and he may have died. When she returned she used a married name of "Mrs. Horton".[1]
In 1760 she was a high-class prostitute to members of the aristocracy including the
In 1764, she had a scandalous affair with
Parsons entertained his guests, and they reported on her informed conversation. In 1767 the Duke became
Three months later, on 24 June 1769, the Duke married Elizabeth Wrottesley (1 November 1745 – 25 May 1822), daughter of the Reverend Sir Richard Wrottesley, Dean of Worcester.[4]
In around 1770 she was painted by
She and Sackville spent the next six or seven years together, until 1776, when Parsons attracted the attention of Charles Maynard, second Viscount Maynard. At this point Maynard was 23 and Parsons was maybe ten years older.[5] The two married on 24 September 1776 in London before visiting Italy, where they had difficulty entering the Royal court because of their history.[1]
In 1784 the two created a
References
- ^ a b c d e A. A. Hanham, ‘Parsons, Anne [Nancy] married name Anne Maynard, Viscountess Maynard] (c.1735–1814/15)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, May 2005 accessed 14 February 2017
- ^ Matthew Kilburn, ‘Fitzpatrick, Anne, countess of Upper Ossory [other married name Anne FitzRoy, duchess of Grafton] (1737/8–1804)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, October 2008 accessed 23 March 2017
- ^ Peter Durrant, ‘FitzRoy, Augustus Henry, third duke of Grafton (1735–1811)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, October 2008 accessed 14 February 2017
- ISBN 0-7153-7486-9
- ^ ISBN 978-1-58839-348-7.