Martha Ray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Ray
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Martha Ray by Nathaniel Dance, 1777 (detail of larger portrait)
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| Born | 1746 |
| Died | 7 April 1779 (aged 32–33) Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
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| Resting place | St Nicholas church, Elstree, Hertfordshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Known for | Mistress of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich |
Martha Ray (1746 – 7 April 1779) was a talented British singer from the 1700s. Her father made corsets, and her mother worked in a noble family's home. Martha was known for being intelligent and a great singer. She became well-known for her singing career. She also had a connection with John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. She lived with him from a young age and they had several children together. One of their children was Basil Montagu, who became a lawyer and helped others.
Early Life and Singing Career
Martha Ray was a very talented singer. Her skills caught the attention of many people, including Lord Sandwich. He supported her education and helped her develop her singing career. She became quite famous for her performances during this time. Lord Sandwich provided her with a home in Westminster and helped her pursue her passion for music.
A Difficult Relationship
During her life, Martha met a soldier named James Hackman. Lord Sandwich introduced them. Hackman visited Martha often and seemed to want to marry her. However, Martha always said no to his proposals. She was focused on her singing career and her family.
Her Tragic End
In 1779, James Hackman left the army. He had become very obsessed with Martha Ray. On April 7, 1779, Hackman sadly caused Martha's death. He was arrested and, a few days later, was sentenced to hanging. His sentence was carried out on April 19 in London.
The sad events of Martha Ray's death were later written about in a popular novel called Love and Madness in 1780.
Martha Ray was buried in a church in Elstree. Later, during church renovations, her remains were moved to an unmarked grave in the churchyard. In 1920, a later Earl of Sandwich placed a tombstone on her grave to remember her.
