Anne Hunter
Encyclopedia
Anne Hunter (1742-1821) was the wife of the celebrated surgeon John Hunter
, and a minor poet. She is mostly remembered now for the texts to at least nine of Joseph Haydn
's 14 songs in English. Their relationship during Haydn's stay is ambiguous, though at the time she was a widow. Songs by Haydn on her texts include: The Mermaid's Song, Fidelity, Pleasing Pain, and The Spirit's Song.
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She married John Hunter
in July 1771. Before her marriage she had gained some note as a lyrical poetess, her "Flower of the Forest" appearing in The Lark, an Edinburgh periodical, in 1765. Her social literary parties were among the most enjoyable of her time, though not always to her husband's taste. Elizabeth Carter
and Mary Delany
were her attached friends, and Haydn set a number of her songs to music, including "My Mother bids me bind my Hair," originally written to an air of Pleydell's. On her husband's death in 1793, Mrs. Hunter was left ill provided for, and for some time she was indebted for a maintenance partly to the queen's bounty and to the generosity of Dr. Maxwell Garthshore
, and partly to the sale of her husband's furniture, library, and curiosities (Ottley, Life of Hunter, pp. 137–9). Her son-in-law, Sir James Campbell of Inverneill provided her with a small annuity, and in 1799 parliament voted to give her ₤15,000 for the Hunterian museum, which finally placed Mrs. Hunter in fair circumstances.
She had four children, of whom two, (a son and a daughter, Lady Campbell) survived her. She lived in retirement in London
till her death on 7 Jan. 1821. Her poems (12mo, London, 1802; 2nd edition, 1803) show no depth of thought, but have a natural feeling and simplicity of expression, which make many of them worth reading (see British Critic, October 1802, xx. 409-13). Her "Sports of the Genii," written in 1797 to a set of graceful drawings by Miss Susan Macdonald (d. 1803), eldest daughter of Lord-chief-baron Macdonald, display in addition humour and fancy.
John Hunter (surgeon)
John Hunter FRS was a Scottish surgeon regarded as one of the most distinguished scientists and surgeons of his day. He was an early advocate of careful observation and scientific method in medicine. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour...
, and a minor poet. She is mostly remembered now for the texts to at least nine of Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
's 14 songs in English. Their relationship during Haydn's stay is ambiguous, though at the time she was a widow. Songs by Haydn on her texts include: The Mermaid's Song, Fidelity, Pleasing Pain, and The Spirit's Song.
Biography
Hunter was the eldest daughter of surgeon Robert Boyne Home of Greenlaw Castle, Berwickshire, and sister of Sir Everard HomeEverard Home
Sir Everard Home, 1st Baronet FRS was a British physician.Home was born in Kingston-upon-Hull and educated at Westminster School. He gained a schoalrship to Trinity College, Cambridge, but decided instead to become a pupil of his brother-in-law, John Hunter, at St. George's Hospital...
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She married John Hunter
John Hunter (surgeon)
John Hunter FRS was a Scottish surgeon regarded as one of the most distinguished scientists and surgeons of his day. He was an early advocate of careful observation and scientific method in medicine. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour...
in July 1771. Before her marriage she had gained some note as a lyrical poetess, her "Flower of the Forest" appearing in The Lark, an Edinburgh periodical, in 1765. Her social literary parties were among the most enjoyable of her time, though not always to her husband's taste. Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter was an English poet, classicist, writer and translator, and a member of the Bluestocking Circle.-Biography:...
and Mary Delany
Mary Delany
Mary Delany was an English Bluestocking, artist, and letter-writer; equally famous for her "paper-mosaicks" and her lively correspondence.-Early life:...
were her attached friends, and Haydn set a number of her songs to music, including "My Mother bids me bind my Hair," originally written to an air of Pleydell's. On her husband's death in 1793, Mrs. Hunter was left ill provided for, and for some time she was indebted for a maintenance partly to the queen's bounty and to the generosity of Dr. Maxwell Garthshore
Maxwell Garthshore
Maxwell Garthshore was a fellow of the Royal Society.He was elected to membership in the society on March 23, 1775.-Further reading:* Dictionary of National Biography...
, and partly to the sale of her husband's furniture, library, and curiosities (Ottley, Life of Hunter, pp. 137–9). Her son-in-law, Sir James Campbell of Inverneill provided her with a small annuity, and in 1799 parliament voted to give her ₤15,000 for the Hunterian museum, which finally placed Mrs. Hunter in fair circumstances.
She had four children, of whom two, (a son and a daughter, Lady Campbell) survived her. She lived in retirement in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
till her death on 7 Jan. 1821. Her poems (12mo, London, 1802; 2nd edition, 1803) show no depth of thought, but have a natural feeling and simplicity of expression, which make many of them worth reading (see British Critic, October 1802, xx. 409-13). Her "Sports of the Genii," written in 1797 to a set of graceful drawings by Miss Susan Macdonald (d. 1803), eldest daughter of Lord-chief-baron Macdonald, display in addition humour and fancy.