Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson (née Darby; November 27, 1757 - December 26, 1800) was an English actress, poet, dramatist, novelist, and social character. She lived in England, in the towns of Bristol and London, and she also spent time in France and Germany. She began writing poetry at the age of seven and began working as an actress and instructor at the age of fourteen. She wrote a number of plays, poems, and novels. She was a star, the subject of tabloid gossip, and well-known for her acting and writing....See more

Mary Robinson (née Darby; November 27, 1757 - December 26, 1800) was an English actress, poet, dramatist, novelist, and social character. She lived in England, in the towns of Bristol and London, and she also spent time in France and Germany. She began writing poetry at the age of seven and began working as an actress and instructor at the age of fourteen. She wrote a number of plays, poems, and novels. She was a star, the subject of tabloid gossip, and well-known for her acting and writing. She was known as "the English Sappho" during her lifetime. In 1779, she got the moniker "Perdita" for her performance as Perdita (the protagonist of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale). She was King George IV's first public mistress when he was still Prince of Wales. See less