Berry, Mary, 1763-1852

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British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001346.0x000131

Mary Berry was an English non-fiction writer born in Kirkbridge, North Yorkshire. She is best known for her letters and journals, namely Social Life in England and France from the French Revolution, published in 1831, and Journals and Correspondence, published after her death in 1865. Berry became notable through her association with close friend Horace Walpole, whose literary collection she, along with her sister and father, inherited.

Mary Berry (1763-1852), author, was born at Stanwick, Yorkshire. She and her sister Agnes began a close friendship with Horace Walpole in 1788, who spoke of them as his "twin wives." He established the sisters at Teddington, in 1789, and two years later offered them the use of his own secondary residence, Little Strawberry Hill. Berry became engaged to General Charles O'Hara (c.1740-1802) about October 1795, though the couple separated in 1796. In 1824 the sisters took up residence in Curzon Street, where they established a salon frequented by many prominent figures in society; Berry's acquaintances included William Thackeray, Maria Edgeworth, and Madame de Staël. Her literary productions include the comedy Fashionable Friends; A comparative view of the social life of England and France from the Restoration of Charles the Second to the French Revolution (1828) and its sequel Social Life in England and France from the French Revolution in 1789 to that of July 1830 (1831); and an edition of the Works of Horace Walpole (1798).

From the description of Notebook, 1840-1842. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702184341

Mary Berry, English author. She and her sister Agnes befriended an elderly Horace Walpole in 1788, who took a strong interest in the girls, providing them a home at his Little Strawberry Hill. She edited the posthumous collection of The Works of Horatio Walpole and wrote several books, including A comparative view of the social life of England and France from the Restoration of Charles the Second to the French Revolution (1828). Chiefly remembered for her association with Walpole, recent scholars have shown interest in her letters and journals for the insight they give on women's history.

From the description of Mary Berry manuscript material : 1 item, 1844 (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 76894097

From the guide to the Mary Berry manuscript material : 1 item, 1844, (The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.)

Epithet: of Add MS 43230

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001346.0x000134

Epithet: of Add MS 21555

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001346.0x000132

Epithet: of Add MS 37726

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001346.0x000133

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Mildred and Louise Kennedy autograph collection, 1784-1923. Houghton Library
referencedIn Johnsonian Miscellanies, extra-illustrated, 1538-1900 (inclusive);, 1738-1866 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Berry, Mary, 1763-1852. Mary Berry manuscript material : 1 item, 1844 New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797. Letters to Hannah More, 1789-1795. Yale University, Lewis Walpole Library
referencedIn LETTERS and papers of the Walpole family; from 1729 to 1811: l. A character of Sir Robert Walpole [afterwards Earl of Orford], Prime Minister; 28 Sept. 1776, f. 1b. 2. A dialogue between Sir [Robert] Walpole and [William] Pulteney, Earl of Bath, in i..., 1729-1811 British Library
referencedIn Hill, George Birkbeck Norman, 1835-1903. Johnsonian Miscellanies, extra-illustrated, 1538-1900 Houghton Library
creatorOf Berry, Mary, 1763-1852. Autograph letters signed : some of which are to Horace Walpole, 1788-1830. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Berry, Mary, 1763-1852. Letter [1835] April 17, Cargault, to Mrs. Mildmay, Piccadilly. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Vol.CXCII(ff.351). 1809-1820.includes:f.1 James Wood, Fellow, afterwards Master, of St John's College, Cambridge: Letter to Lord Aberdeen: 1809.f.2 Sir William Gell, FRS; FSA: Letters to Lord Aberdeen: 1804-1809.f. 4 Henry Raikes, traveller an..., 1809-1820 British Library
referencedIn Amy Lowell autograph collection, 1523-1930. Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron, 1800-1859. Autograph manuscript letter (signed) to [Mary] Berry; Bourges, 1843 September 1. Houghton Library
referencedIn BERRY PAPERS: correspondence, papers and journals of Mary Berry (1763-1852), the friend of Horace Walpole. For her life see Lady Teresa Lewis, Extracts of the Journals and Correspondence of Miss Berry, 1783-1852, 3 vols. 1865 (quoted below as Extract..., 1757-1851 British Library
creatorOf Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797. Reminiscences written for the amusement of Miss Mary and Miss Agnes Berry, 1788; Parody on Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his son; and Detached thoughts : autograph manuscripts. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797. Autograph correspondence signed, 1735 to 1797. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Sotheby, William, 1757-1833. Letters to William Sotheby, 1813-1833. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Albany, Louise Maximiliane Caroline Emanuele, Princess of Stolberg-Gedern, calling herself Countess of, 1752-1824. Letter : Florence, to Mary Berry, 1819 Sept. 11. Yale University, Lewis Walpole Library
referencedIn (VIII. ff. 424). 1809-June, 1810.includes:ff. 1, 50,146,177,187,198,250,406 Hon Frederic John Robinson, Viscount Goderich (1827) and (1833) Earl of Ripon; Private Secretary to Lord Hardwicke: Correspondence with the 3rd Lord Hardwicke: 1805-1819. ff..., 1809-1810 British Library
creatorOf Hill, George Birkbeck, editor. Boswell's Life of Johnson : including Boswell's Journal of a tour to the Hebrides and Johnson's Diary of a journey into North Wales, extra-illustrated, 1464-1897 Houghton Library
creatorOf Berry, Mary, 1763-1852. Letter : to "Dear Sir", May 7. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Harriet Martineau manuscript material : 11 items, ca. 1834-1861 The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.
referencedIn Pinkerton, John, 1758-1826. John Pinkerton letters, 1775 Dec 14-1815 Jan 31. Yale University, Lewis Walpole Library
referencedIn Hill, George Birkbeck, editor. Boswell's Life of Johnson : including Boswell's Journal of a tour to the Hebrides and Johnson's Diary of a journey into North Wales, extra-illustrated, 1464-1897 Houghton Library
creatorOf Mildred and Louise Kennedy autograph collection, 1784-1923 Houghton Library
referencedIn Baillie, Joanna, 1762-1851,. Autograph letters signed from Joanna Baillie to various recipients [manuscript], 1814-1826. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Mary Berry manuscript material : 1 item, 1844 The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.
referencedIn Staël, Madame de (Anne-Louise-Germaine), 1766-1817. Two autograph letters from Mme de Staël, to Fanny Burney and Miss Berry, no date, and one letter from J. Hutton to Fanny Burney about Madame de Staël, Oxford, 1793 March 3. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Berry, Mary, 1763-1852. Notebook, 1840-1842. Yale University, Lewis Walpole Library
creatorOf Berry, Mary, 1763-1852,. Autograph letters signed from Mary Berry, Richmond and London, to Frances Anne Kemble [manuscript], [1841-1843]. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Damer, Anne Seymour, 1748 or 9-1828. Notebooks, 1789-1797. Yale University, Lewis Walpole Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Authors, English
Women authors
Dreams
Women authors, English
Occupation
Author
Women authors, English
Writer
Writers and Editors
Activity

Person

Birth 1763

Death 1852

Birth 1763-03-16

Death 1852-11-21

Female

English,

Britons

English

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