Mrs Mary Palmer, by her brother SirJoshua Reynolds (d.1792). Collection of Plymouth City Council,Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, PLYMG.CO.15Stained glass in Palmer House, Great Torrington, showing arms of John Palmer[nb 1]
Mary Palmer (néeReynolds; 9 February 1716 – 27 May 1794) was a British author from Devon who wroteDevonshire Dialogue, once considered the "best piece of literature in thevernacular of Devon."[1] She was the mother of painterTheophila Gwatkin and sister of the artists SirJoshua Reynolds andFrances Reynolds and of the pamphleteerElizabeth Johnson.
Mary was the eldest daughter and third child of Samuel Reynolds (1681–1745), master of thePlympton Earlgrammar school, Devonshire, by his wife, Theophila Potter (1688–1756). She was seven years older than her brotherJoshua Reynolds and her fondness for drawing is said to have influenced him when a boy. In 1740 she provided £60, half of the premium paid toThomas Hudson the portrait-painter, for Joshua's pupilage, and 9 years later advanced money for his expenses in Italy.[2] Joshua Reynolds painted two portraits of his sister Mary, one made about 1747, the other when she was aged about 60 years of age. Both portraits descended to her great-grandson, George Stawell of Great Torrington.[2]
Mary Palmer was the author ofDevonshire Dialogue, considered by theDictionary of National Biography in 1895 to be the "best piece of literature in the vernacular of Devon".[2] It gives an account of the customs, characters and dialect unique to western England. Written in the middle of the 18th century, it was shown to friends and extracts were published in periodicals during her lifetime, without being attributed to her. A portion appeared in 1837 with a glossary by her grandsonJames Frederick Palmer (1803–1871), son of John Palmer.[3][4] A complete version was edited by her daughterTheophila Gwatkin in 1839,[5] and another edition was published in 1869.[6]
On 18 July 1740 Mary Reynolds married John Palmer (1708–1779) ofGreat Torrington, Devonshire, a lawyer[2][nb 2] who served thrice as Mayor of Great Torrington. In 1752 he built a house in Great Torrington now known asPalmer House, and it was there that Dr.Samuel Johnson stayed with the Palmers when visiting Devon with Sir Joshua Reynolds.[2][7]
Mary II Palmer (1750–1820), who together with her sister Offy spent much time in London with their uncle, Sir Joshua Reynolds. He had great affection for them, painted their portraits, and bequeathed Mary nearly £100,000 in his will. In 1792 she marriedMurrough O'Brien, 5th Earl of Inchiquin (1726–1808), later 1stMarquess of Thomond. Mary died without issue in 1820 and left as her heir her brother John Palmer.[2]
Elizabeth Palmer (1758–1784) married William Salkeld at Great Torrington, Devon, on 26 April 1781.
Mary O'Brien, Countess of Inchiquin, by Thomas Phillips after original by Sir Joshua Reynolds,Petworth House, Sussex
Mary O'Brien, Countess of Inchiquin, painted before 1785 by her uncle Sir Joshua Reynolds. Collection ofFairfax House, City of York.
Theophila Palmer, mezzotint by John Raphael Smith of original by Sir Joshua Reynolds, published 1778, British Museum, 2006, U.214
Theophila Palmer, mezzotint by John Raphael Smith of original by Sir Joshua Reynolds. 1767, published 1777, National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG D2540.
^Arms of John Palmer: "Gules, three escallops", with crest: "A wyvern's head and neck couped", with inscription below: "J N Palmer". Apalmer was an old term forpilgrim, and pilgrims to the shrine ofSt James atCompostella, Spain, distinguished themselves by wearing ascallop shell, the symbol of that saint
^The Dictionary of National Biographies article states that Palmer never practised,[2] however, the article on the Johnson Society website states that Palmer was a successful lawyer.[7]
^Maria Edgeworth (1768–1849) described Robert Lovell Gwatkin as a true "Roast Beef of old England, king and constitution man". The same writer, in a letter dated 29 March 1831, thus spoke of Mrs. Gwatkin: "She has been very pretty, and, though deaf, is very agreeable—enthusiastically and affectionately fond of her uncle — indignant at the idea of his not having himself written theDiscourses – "Burke or Johnson. No such thing — he wrote them himself. I am evidence, he used to employ me as his secretary".[2][8]
^The novelistFanny Burney often met the Palmer sisters at Sir Joshua's house in London, and recorded in herDiary: "The Miss Palmers added to the grace of his table and of his evening circles by their pleasing manners and the beauty of their persons...The eldest Miss Palmer seems to have a better understanding than Offy, but Offy has the most pleasing face".[2][9]
