Eliza Draper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eliza Draper
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by John Raphael Smith
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| Born | 5 April 1744 Anchuthengu |
| Died | 3 August 1778 (aged 34) Clifton, England |
Eliza Draper (born April 5, 1744 – died August 3, 1778) was a British woman known for her connection to the famous writer Laurence Sterne. She inspired some of his most well-known works, including Sentimental Journey and Journal to Eliza. Eliza was a talented writer herself, and her letters from India shared vivid descriptions of life and customs there.
Contents
Eliza's Early Life
Eliza was born Elizabeth Sclater in Anjengo, India, on April 5, 1744. Her father worked for the East India Company. Both her parents passed away when she was very young.
Eliza and her two sisters then lived with their grandfather, Charles Whitehill, in Bombay. In 1754, the girls were sent to a boarding school in England. They spent holidays with their aunt and uncle, Thomas and Elizabeth Pickering. Eliza and her sisters returned to their grandfather in Bombay in 1757.
Marriage and Family Life
Eliza married Daniel Draper on July 27, 1758, when she was 14 years old. Daniel was a cousin of General Sir William Draper.
Eliza had two children. Her son was born in 1759 but sadly passed away in England nine years later. Her daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1761. Eliza's sisters also married into notable families.
In 1765, the Drapers visited England. They brought their children to England for their education. Daniel returned to Bombay in 1766, but Eliza stayed in England.
Meeting Laurence Sterne
In early 1767, Eliza met the famous novelist Laurence Sterne. This happened while she was staying at a friend's house in London.
Sterne was quickly charmed by Eliza's lively personality and intelligence. He was very open about his admiration for her. Their friendship grew quickly, and they exchanged miniature portraits.
Just three months after they met, Eliza had to return to India. Sterne was very sad about her departure.
Sterne's Writings Inspired by Eliza
After Eliza left, Sterne published his book Sentimental Journey. This book included many references to Eliza. Their relationship was a close friendship, not a romantic one. Still, it created a lot of interest.
Sterne also wrote his Journal to Eliza. He sent part of this journal to her. The rest of it was discovered much later, in 1894. Sterne passed away from an illness a year later, without seeing Eliza again.
Sterne called himself Yorick in his letters to Eliza, and he called her Bramine. They continued to write to each other until his death. After Sterne died, his letters were published. Eliza managed to stop her letters to him from being published. She allowed ten of his letters to be published under the title Letters from Yorick to Eliza.
Eliza's Life in India
Eliza left her children in England with her grandfather. He was living in retirement in Worfield, Shropshire. She then sailed back to Bombay to join her husband.
Her husband, Daniel Draper, worked as the Accountant-General in Bombay. In 1769, he was sent to Tellicherry as the Chief of the Factory. Eliza went with him. They later moved to Surat in 1770 and returned to Bombay in 1772.
Changes in Her Marriage
In Bombay, Eliza and her husband grew apart. In January 1773, Eliza left her husband's house. She found safety for a time on board HMS Prudent, a ship. She never saw her husband again after this. Their marriage was not officially ended, but Eliza kept custody of her daughter.
Eliza's Independent Life
Eliza lived for a year in India with her uncle John Whitehill. He was the Chief at Masulipatnam and later became the Governor of Madras.
In 1774, Eliza returned to England for her health. She lived in London on Queen Anne Street, a popular area for writers. Her sixteen-year-old daughter joined her there.
Eliza became well-known in London's literary circles. She was friends with important figures like John Wilkes. In 1778, she met the Abbé Raynal, a French writer. She made a strong impression on him.
Eliza gave him a lot of information for his book Histoire des deux Indes. Raynal was clearly very impressed by her. After her death, he wrote a beautiful tribute to her. It began: "Territory of Anjengo, thou art nothing; but thou hast given birth to Eliza." He praised her kindness and her honesty.
Later Years and Legacy
In May 1777, Eliza became very ill. In June 1778, she traveled to Bristol. She may have stayed with her husband's relative, Sir William Draper.
Eliza passed away in Clifton on August 3, 1778, at the age of 34. She was buried in Bristol Cathedral. There is a detailed monument there made by the sculptor John Bacon. The inscription on it reads:
"Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Eliza Draper in whom genius and benevolence were united; she died August 3rd. 1778, aged 34."
Eliza's daughter, Elizabeth, married Thomas Nevill on October 1, 1785. She had a son, Daniel Draper Nevill, and two daughters.
Daniel Draper continued to work for the East India Company until 1782. He then retired to England. He passed away on March 20, 1805. He was a wealthy man and left a large amount of money to his grandchildren and other relatives.
