Barbarina Brand facts for kids

Barbarina Brand, Lady Dacre

Barbarina Brand, Lady Dacre (born in 1768, died in 1854), was a very talented English writer. She wrote poems and plays, and she also translated books from other languages. Besides writing, she was good at sculpting and riding horses. She knew how to speak French and Italian. She also wrote many letters to other famous women writers like Joanna Baillie and Mary Russell Mitford.

Early Life and Learning

This picture shows Sophia, Lady Asgill, sitting. She was Lady Dacre's sister.

Barbarina Ogle was born in 1768. She was the third daughter of Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle. Her mother was Hester Thomas. Hester's father was John Thomas, who was a bishop. Barbarina's brother was Admiral Sir Charles Ogle. Her sister, Sophia, married General Sir Charles Asgill.

Barbarina was taught at home. People said she was "one of the most accomplished women of her time." This means she was very skilled in many areas.

Her Career and Works

In 1789, Barbarina married Valentine Henry Wilmot. He was an officer in the guards. They later separated. They had one daughter, Arabella Jane. After Mr. Wilmot died in 1819, Barbarina married Thomas Brand. He later became Lord Dacre.

Lady Dacre was known as one of the smartest and most talented women of her time. In 1821, her poems and plays were printed. They were called Dramas, Translations, and Occasional Poems. Some of these works were written many years before.

She wrote four plays:

• Gonzalvo of Cordova (1810) was based on a French novel.
• Pedrarias, a tragic drama (1811) got its story from another French book.
• Ina, a tragedy in five acts was set in old England. It was performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1815. It was not a big success at first. Lady Dacre later changed some parts for her book.
• Her fourth play was called Xarifa.

Critics liked her plays very much. Lady Dacre also translated sonnets (a type of poem) by Petrarch, a famous Italian poet. In 1823, an Italian writer named Ugo Foscolo dedicated his book about Petrarch to Lady Dacre. Her translations were included in his book.

Besides writing, Lady Dacre was also a very good artist. She was especially skilled at making models of animals, like horses.

Later Life and Passing

In 1831, Lady Dacre edited a book called Recollections of a Chaperon. In 1838, she edited Tales of the Peerage and Peasantry. Both books were written by her only daughter, Arabella Sullivan.

Arabella died in 1849. She had five children with her husband, Reverend Frederick Sullivan.

In her final years, Lady Dacre lost her hearing. She passed away on May 17, 1854.

Selected Writings

• Dramas, Translations, and Occasional Poems (printed in 1821). This book included:
  • Gonzalvo of Cordova (1810)
  • Pedarias, a Tragic Drama (1811)
  • Ina, a tragedy in five acts (1815)
  • Xarifa (a drama)
• Her translated sonnets were in Ugo Foscolo's Essays on Petrarch (1823).
• Editor of Recollections of a Chaperon by Arabella Sullivan (1831).
• Editor of Tales of the Peerage and Peasantry by Arabella Sullivan (1835).
• Translations from the Italian (printed in 1836).