Maria De Fleury facts for kids

Maria De Fleury was a writer, poet, and hymn composer from London. She lived in the late 1700s, from about 1773 to 1791. Her family were French Huguenots, who were Protestants who had to leave France. Not much is known about her personal life.

Maria De Fleury's Early Life and Writings

Maria De Fleury might have been a schoolteacher. She lived in different parts of London, including Islington and Cripplegate. Even though she was a talented writer, some of her writings suggest she felt a bit unsure about her own education.

Her first known poem was written in 1773. It was a special poem for her brother's wedding.

Defending Lord George Gordon

Maria De Fleury was part of a group called the Protestant Association. This group was against giving more rights to Catholics at the time. She strongly supported Lord George Gordon, who was a leader of this group.

Lord George Gordon was accused of causing some big protests, known as the Gordon Riots. Maria De Fleury wrote a pamphlet in 1781 to defend him. It was called Unrighteous Abuse Detected and Chastised. She also wrote a book of poems about his legal troubles and his freedom.

Her Religious Connections

Even though she was a Baptist, Maria De Fleury attended a church led by John Towers. This church was independent and later moved to Jewin Street.

She was also good friends with another Baptist minister and writer, John Ryland. She dedicated a play-like work to Lord George Gordon. It was called Henry, or the Trump of Grace (1782). In this story, Henry is helped by guardian angels, Religion and Grace, who protect him from danger. This work was so popular it was printed three times.

Maria De Fleury's Ideas on God and Freedom

Many of Maria De Fleury's hymns are still sung today. They first appeared in her book Hymns for Believers' Baptism (1786). Her collected poems and essays were published in 1791 as Divine Poems and Essays.

Celebrating British Liberty

One important work in her collection was "British Liberty Established and Gallic Liberty Restored, or The Triumph of Freedom." In this poem, she compared herself to a famous biblical figure, Deborah. She celebrated important historical figures and events related to freedom.

These included King Alfred, the Magna Carta, and Oliver Cromwell. She also mentioned King George III and the French Revolution. Maria De Fleury highlighted the strong role women played in history.

Debates and Women's Voices

Maria De Fleury became involved in a public debate with a preacher named William Huntington. She was encouraged by her friend John Ryland to speak out.

She wrote a letter in 1787, which led to Huntington's daughter writing a pamphlet. This pamphlet suggested that women should not speak in public debates. Maria De Fleury responded in 1788 with her Answer, where she strongly stated that women's freedom to speak was a gift from God.

She continued to write against Huntington's ideas in 1791 with Antinomianism Unmasked and Refuted. This led to more back-and-forth writings between them. After 1791, Maria De Fleury disappears from historical records.