Lady Mary Dering
Encyclopedia
Lady Mary Dering (bap. 3 September 1629 – 7 February 1704) was an English composer. She was daughter of Daniel Harvey of Combe, Croydon
, Surrey, a turkey
merchant in London
(brother of Dr. William Harvey
who first described blood circulation accurately) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Kynnersley, also a London merchant.
At school in 1640, at Hackney's "ladies university of the female arts", she began a friendship with Katherine Philips
(the Matchless Orinda). Mary studied with Henry Lawes
, who dedicated his book to her; in the dedication he highly praises her compositions, and says that few of any sex have matched their perfection. Some of her music was published in John Playford
's Select Ayres and Dialogues, and three of her songs were published in Lawes' Second book of airs; These are the first known published works by a woman in England.
On 5 April 1648 Mary Harvey was married to Sir Edward Dering. They had seventeen children, seven of whom died young. She survived her husband by twenty years, dying in February 1704 (1705 New Style
); she also outlived her eldest son Sir Edward Dering, 3rd Baronet
.
Lady Dering was buried at Pluckley
in Kent
, and has a memorial inscription in the church there.
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, Surrey, a turkey
Turkey (bird)
A turkey is a large bird in the genus Meleagris. One species, Meleagris gallopavo, commonly known as the Wild Turkey, is native to the forests of North America. The domestic turkey is a descendant of this species...
merchant in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(brother of Dr. William Harvey
William Harvey
William Harvey was an English physician who was the first person to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart...
who first described blood circulation accurately) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Kynnersley, also a London merchant.
At school in 1640, at Hackney's "ladies university of the female arts", she began a friendship with Katherine Philips
Katherine Philips
Katherine Philips was an Anglo-Welsh poet.-Biography:Katherine Philips was the first Englishwoman to enjoy widespread public acclaim as a poet during her lifetime. Born in London, she was daughter of John Fowler, a Presbyterian, and a merchant of Bucklersbury, London. Philips is said to have read...
(the Matchless Orinda). Mary studied with Henry Lawes
Henry Lawes
Henry Lawes was an English musician and composer.He was born at Dinton in Wiltshire, and received his musical education from John Cooper, better known under his Italian pseudonym Giovanni Coperario, a famous composer of the day...
, who dedicated his book to her; in the dedication he highly praises her compositions, and says that few of any sex have matched their perfection. Some of her music was published in John Playford
John Playford
John Playford was a London bookseller, publisher, minor composer, and member of the Stationers' Company, who published books on music theory, instruction books for several instruments, and psalters with tunes for singing in churches...
's Select Ayres and Dialogues, and three of her songs were published in Lawes' Second book of airs; These are the first known published works by a woman in England.
On 5 April 1648 Mary Harvey was married to Sir Edward Dering. They had seventeen children, seven of whom died young. She survived her husband by twenty years, dying in February 1704 (1705 New Style
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
); she also outlived her eldest son Sir Edward Dering, 3rd Baronet
Sir Edward Dering, 3rd Baronet
Sir Edward Dering, 3rd Baronet was an English Member of Parliament and baronet.He was the eldest son of Sir Edward Dering, 2nd Baronet of Surrenden Dering in Pluckley, Kent and his wife Mary Harvey, a composer and niece of Dr...
.
Lady Dering was buried at Pluckley
Pluckley
Pluckley is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, United Kingdom. It is located close to the North Downs, and is approximately 5 miles west of Ashford...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, and has a memorial inscription in the church there.