Maria Riddell facts for kids
Maria Banks Riddell (born Woodley; 1772–1808) was a talented writer and naturalist. She was born in the West Indies and later lived in Scotland and Wales. Maria was a poet, someone who collected and edited writings, and a travel writer. The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns admired her, calling her "a votary of the Muses," which means someone dedicated to the arts.
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Who Was Maria Riddell?
Maria Riddell was a remarkable woman who lived in the late 1700s and early 1800s. She was known for her writing, especially her poetry and travel stories. She also studied nature and edited books. Her life connected her to important literary figures of her time, including the famous poet Robert Burns.
Early Life and Travels
Maria Woodley was born in 1772. Her father, William Woodley, was the Governor of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea for two terms (1768–1771 and 1791–1793). In 1788, Maria traveled with her father to these islands. She wrote a book about her journey and also included information about the plants and animals she saw there. This showed her early interest in both writing and natural history.
In 1791, Maria married Walter Riddell. They made their home at an estate called Woodley Park in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. Today, this estate is known as Goldielea. Walter Riddell was the younger brother of Robert Riddell, who was a supporter of the poet Robert Burns.
Friendship with Robert Burns
Robert Burns often visited Woodley Park for social gatherings. He became a close friend of Maria Riddell and even wrote several love songs for her. Their friendship was very important to both of them.
However, in early 1794, a misunderstanding happened between Maria and Burns. This caused a temporary disagreement between them. Sadly, Robert Riddell, Burns's patron, passed away that same year. Maria and her husband later made up with Burns in 1795. Maria even sent him a poem to show she wanted to be friends again.
When Robert Burns died in 1796, Maria wrote a well-regarded article about him for the Dumfries Journal. She was also friends with another writer, Helen Craik, who also admired Burns.
A Talented Writer and Editor
Maria Riddell was not only a writer but also an editor. In 1802, she put together a collection of poems called The Metrical Miscellany. This book mostly featured poems that had not been published before. She included works by other notable women poets of her time, such as Anna Laetitia Barbauld, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and Mary Darwall. A second edition of her anthology was published in 1803.
Later Life and Legacy
After some time, Maria's first husband, Walter Riddell, lost their property, Woodley Park, and another estate. He passed away around the turn of the century. Maria Riddell and her two children then moved to Hampton Court, where they lived on a fixed income.
In 1807, Maria married a Welsh landowner named Phillips Lloyd Fletcher. She passed away in 1808 and was buried in the Fletcher family vault in Chester. Maria Riddell is remembered for her contributions to literature and her unique perspective as a travel writer and naturalist.
Maria Riddell's Published Works
- Voyage to the Madeira and Leeward and Caribbean Isles, with Sketches of the Natural History of these Islands, published in Edinburgh, 1792.
- The Metrical Miscellany, consisting chiefly of poems hitherto unpublished, published in 1802 (she was the editor). A second edition came out in 1803.
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