Dorothea Herbert facts for kids

Dorothea Herbert (born around 1767, died 1829) was an Irish writer. She is best known for her detailed diary, called Retrospections. This diary was first published much later, in 1929-30. It gives us a great look into what life was like in the late 1700s in Carrick-on-Suir, a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. Her father was a church leader there.

Dorothea's diary is full of clever observations about people and society. However, her strong feelings for a young man named John Roe, which were not returned, became a very important part of her story. Retrospections is a valuable book for historians. It helps them understand everyday life in Ireland during the 18th century.

Who Was Dorothea Herbert?

Dorothea was the oldest of nine children. Her father, Rev. Nicholas Herbert, was a rector (a type of church leader) for the Church of Ireland in Carrick-on-Suir. Her mother, Martha, came from an important family.

Dorothea's Early Life and Education

Dorothea went to a boarding school in Carrick as a day student. She also had private teachers who taught her dancing, French, and music. She enjoyed the social life in town at first. Even though she thought some of the town's manners were "amusingly vulgar," she still had fun.

Her mother did not want her to marry a curate (another church leader) named John Gwynne. So, Dorothea turned down his offer, even though she thought he was kind and funny.

Life in Knockgrafton

Dorothea's father also looked after three other church areas. In 1788, his church leaders asked him to spend more time in Knockgraffon, a parish about twenty miles from Carrick. Her father built a house there and visited every year.

It was in Knockgrafton that Dorothea met John Roe. She described him as "mysterious, moody and attractive." Dorothea developed very strong feelings for him. But he did not feel the same way about her. Over six years of visits, she realized he only saw her as a casual friend.

Later Life and Challenges

Dorothea felt very let down by John Roe. This made her withdraw from society. She became very isolated. She was even stopped from going to church because of her behavior, which was seen as rebellious.

By 1798, Dorothea had gone through a period of great emotional distress. Around this time, her "foster-mother" (a close caregiver) was sadly killed by rebels during an uprising. Soon after, her brother, Otway, and then her father passed away.

After her father's death, the Herbert family stayed in Carrick. But Dorothea's life became very sad and troubled. She lived a very isolated life as she got older.

Dorothea's Writings

Even though Dorothea became more isolated and struggled with her emotions, she continued to write. She wrote plays, novels, and even an opera. Sadly, none of these have survived.

However, one of her poetry books, called Poetical Eccentricities Written by an Oddity, has been found. She also wrote Journal Notes, which continued her Retrospections diary. A historian named Dr. Frances Finnegan has published these writings as part of a book about Dorothea's life.