Clementina Stirling Graham facts for kids
Clementina Stirling Graham (1782–1877) was a Scottish writer and a popular host. She was famous for her book called Mystifications. A painting of her can be seen in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Contents
Her Life Story
Clementina was born in May 1782. Her parents were Patrick Stirling and Amelia Graham. Her mother, Amelia, inherited a small estate called Duntrune near Dundee in 1802. After this, her parents changed their last name to Graham.
Family and Politics
Clementina's family had a long history. Her mother's ancestors, William and James Graham, were involved in the Jacobite movement. This was a political group that supported the return of the old royal family to the throne in Scotland in the 1700s.
However, Clementina herself had different political views. She supported the Whigs. This was a political party in Britain that believed in more power for Parliament and less for the king. She was part of a group of important Whigs in Edinburgh, including famous people like Francis Jeffrey.
Where She Lived
Clementina lived at Duntrune House in Wellbank, near Dundee. Her home had a great view of the Tay River and even a distant view of Saint Andrews.
She often spent her winters in Edinburgh. There, she was well-known for her cleverness and for pretending to be other people.
Her Final Years
Clementina Stirling Graham passed away on August 23, 1877. She was buried in her family's plot in The Howff graveyard in central Dundee. Her tomb is marked by a special stone.
Her portrait is displayed in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, showing her importance in Scottish history.
Her Creative Works
When she was younger, Clementina loved to play tricks on her friends. She would often pretend to be someone else, which was called "personation." She played these funny tricks on people like Francis Jeffrey.
The Mystifications Book
Later in life, her friend Dr. John Brown asked her to write down these stories. She wrote them in a book called Mystifications. It was first printed privately in 1859. Dr. Brown then helped publish it for everyone to read in 1865. The book also included some of her poems and short stories.
Other Writings
Clementina also translated a book from French in 1829. It was called The Bee Preserver, written by a Swiss author named Jonas de Gelieu. For this work, she received a medal from the Highland Society.
She also wrote some songs.
Her books are now very old and can be found online for free.
- Mystifications
- The Bee Preserver (2nd Edition)
Her Papers and Archives
You can find a collection of Clementina Stirling Graham's papers at the Archive Services of the University of Dundee. These papers help us learn more about her life and work.
