Jane Brereton facts for kids
Jane Brereton (1685–1740) was a Welsh poet who wrote in English. She was well-known for her letters and poems published in The Gentleman's Magazine, a popular magazine of her time.
Jane Brereton's Life Story
Jane was born in 1685. Her parents were Thomas Hughes and Anne Jones, who lived near Mold, Flintshire. It was unusual for girls back then, but Jane received a good education until she was about 16. She showed a strong interest in writing poetry from a young age.
In January 1711, Jane married Thomas Brereton. He was a student at Brasenose College, Oxford. Sadly, her husband soon lost all his money. He then moved to Paris. After some time, Jane and Thomas decided to live apart. In 1721, she moved back to Flintshire. She lived a quiet life there, mostly seeing only close friends.
Around that time, Thomas Brereton got a job with the customs office in Parkgate, Cheshire. But in February 1722, he drowned in the River Dee near Saltney. After his death, Jane moved to Wrexham. She did this to make sure her daughters, Lucy and Charlotte, could get a good education. Jane died in Wrexham on August 7, 1740, when she was 55 years old.
Jane's Published Poems
Jane Brereton had a talent for writing verses, which are like short poems. For several years, she shared her work in The Gentleman's Magazine. She used the pen name "Melissa" when she wrote for the magazine. Another writer, who signed as FIDO, was also a regular contributor. Many people believe FIDO was Thomas Beach.
After Jane's death, a book of her writings was published in London in 1744. It was called Poems on Several Occasions; with letters to her friends; and an account of her life. Some of her poems were also included in other collections published later.
Katherine Turner, a writer for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, noted Jane's importance. She wrote that Jane's poems showed a skill for writing for different events. Her work also represented a key moment for women writers in the 1700s. It was a time when women could start to publish their work and still be respected.
Some of Jane's Works
Here are some of the works Jane Brereton published:
- The Fifth Ode of the Fourth Book of Horace Imitated: And Apply'd to the King. London: William Hinchcliffe, 1716.
- An Expostulary Epistle to Sir Richard Steele upon the Death of Mr. Addison. London: William Hinchliffe, 1720.
- Merlin: A Poem. London: Edward Cave, 1735.
- Poems on Several Occasions. London: Edward Cave, 1744.
