Olivia Mariamne Devenish
Encyclopedia
Olivia Mariamne Devenish (1771–1814), was the spouse of Thomas Stamford Raffles, vice governor of Java
in 1811-1816. A memorial monument was erected to her memory in the botanical garden of Buitenzorg (Bogor).
The daughter of George Devenish, she was married in Madras in 1793 to Jacob Cassivelaun Fancourt (d. 1800), and in 1805 in London
to Thomas Stamford Raffles. She was born in India
but was raised in Ireland
. It was commonly said that her second spouse was helped in his career through her relationship with his superior.
During the tenure of her spouse as governor on Java, she introduced many social reforms in her capacity as a so called first lady: she showed herself by the side of her husband at official occasions, such as visits at the native rulers, and held receptions for people of all sexes and ethnicity, which was new on Java, where white women had previously isolated themselves from the native population. She banned the use of Areca catechu
for western women but also advocated the use of a sarong
for them.
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
in 1811-1816. A memorial monument was erected to her memory in the botanical garden of Buitenzorg (Bogor).
The daughter of George Devenish, she was married in Madras in 1793 to Jacob Cassivelaun Fancourt (d. 1800), and in 1805 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...
to Thomas Stamford Raffles. She was born in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
but was raised in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was commonly said that her second spouse was helped in his career through her relationship with his superior.
During the tenure of her spouse as governor on Java, she introduced many social reforms in her capacity as a so called first lady: she showed herself by the side of her husband at official occasions, such as visits at the native rulers, and held receptions for people of all sexes and ethnicity, which was new on Java, where white women had previously isolated themselves from the native population. She banned the use of Areca catechu
Areca catechu
Areca catechu is the areca palm or areca nut palm, , a species of palm which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. The palm is believed to have originated in either Malaysia or the Philippines...
for western women but also advocated the use of a sarong
Sarong
A sarong or sarung is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a kilt by men and as a skirt by women throughout much of South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric most often has woven plaid or...
for them.