Значение слова MONTAGU в Литературной энциклопедии

MONTAGU

1) ELIZABETH (ROBINSON) (1720-1800).-Critic, _dau._ of a gentleman of Yorkshire, _m._ a grandson of Lord Sandwich. She was one of the original "blue-stockings," and her house was a literary centre. She wrote an _Essay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare_ (1769), in which she compared him with the classical and French dramatists, and defended him against the strictures of Voltaire. It had great fame in its day, but has long been superseded. 2) MONTAGU, LADY MARY WORTLEY (PIERREPONT) (1690-1762).-Letter-writer, was the eldest _dau._ of the 1st Duke of Kingston. In her youth she combined the attractions of a reigning beauty and a wit. Her early studies were encouraged and assisted by Bishop Burnet, and she was the friend of Pope, Addison, and Swift. In 1712 she _m._, against the wishes of her family, Edward Wortley-Montagu, a cousin of the celebrated Charles Montagu, afterwards Earl of Halifax. Her husband having been appointed Ambassador to the Porte, she accompanied him, and wrote the sparkling _Letters from the East_ which have given her a place high among the great letter-writers of the world. While in Turkey she became acquainted with the practice of inoculation against smallpox, which she did much to introduce into western countries. After her return to England she settled at Twickenham, and renewed her friendship with Pope, which, however, ended in a violent quarrel, arising out of her publication of _Town Eclogues_. She was furiously attacked by both Pope and Swift, and was not slow to defend herself. In 1737, for reasons which have never been explained, she left her husband and country, and settled in Italy. Mr. M. having _d._ 1761, she returned at the request of her _dau._, the Countess of Bute, but _d._ the following year.

Литературная энциклопедия.