Mary Nesbitt
Encyclopedia
Mary Nesbitt was an English upper class socialite and courtesan
who mixed in the elevated circles of government and royalty in late 18th century Great Britain. Her home, Norwood House, in Upper Norwood
, then Surrey
, now South London
, became a meeting place for the rich and powerful.
. She was also early on known as Polly Davis.
Her society career began as an artist's model for Sir Joshua Reynolds
in 1764. Through this connection she began her career as a courtesan. Simon Luttrell
, nicknamed the King of Hell and later first earl of Carhampton, was possibly her original seducer. Her association with Luttrell may be the origin of her later nickname of Hellfire Davies.
Through Luttrell she was introduced to Alexander Nesbitt (bap 1730 - d 1772), the youngest of three sons of Thomas Nesbitt, a merchant banker in the City of London
.
Mary married Nesbitt, on 25 February 1768, at St Martin-in-the-Fields
, with Luttrell as a witness. Nesbitt settled on her for life his house and estate at Upper Norwood in Surrey. The couple also had a residence at 10 Buckingham Street, London.
Alexander Nesbitt suffered a mental collapse and was confined in private lodgings near Blackfriars
around 1769, he died in 1772. Mary's enemies, the news sheet Tête-à-tête and the anonymous Junius, attributed his insanity to her disrespectful treatment of him.
Around 1771 Mary became the mistress of the Hon. Augustus John Hervey
(1724–1779), a naval officer, and second son of Lord Hervey of Ickworth (1696–1743). Hervey became third earl of Bristol in 1775, and Mary and Augustus lived together, apparently faithfully, at Norwood House. They also had residences at 6 St James's Square, London and at Ickworth House
, Suffolk. They were prevented from marrying when the earl's divorce petition was dismissed in 1779.
On Hervey's death in 1779 Mary received the manor of Evedon
, other land in Lincolnshire, and £5000 from the sale of about 186 acre (0.75271596 km²) in Suffolk. She also received a share of the stock and furniture at 6 St James's Square and at Ickworth, valued at £7378 12s. 11d. She continued to live at her own house in Upper Norwood which she enlarged.
Her salon
at Norwood, was frequented by men such as George Rose
, secretary to the Treasury, and many young aspirants to political office. During the French Revolution she traveled in diplomatic circles on the continent. This may indicate that she had been recruited by prime minister William Pitt
as a government agent in his covert attempts to restore the French monarchy. She now attracted public praise. On 25 September 1797, the Morning Chronicle
acknowledged that "this celebrated woman", despite "the miscellany of her life", had "acquired an elevation … which she has preserved with dignity", using "her influence with the great in favour of the unfortunate".
She was forced to let Norwood House due to reduced financial circumstances in the early 19th century. Mary then frequently lived abroad, where in 1808 she met Madame Tussaud and bought her a house in Crystal Palace. It is believed from there she took up her world famous waxwork museum in 1821 at Montreuil-sur-Mer
, Pas-de-Calais, France
and in 1822 in Switzerland
.
She is believed to have died, aged eighty-two, in Paris, where she was buried on 4 November 1825.
Courtesan
A courtesan was originally a female courtier, which means a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person.In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
who mixed in the elevated circles of government and royalty in late 18th century Great Britain. Her home, Norwood House, in Upper Norwood
Upper Norwood
Upper Norwood is an elevated area in south London, England within the postcode SE19. It is a residential district largely in the London Borough of Croydon although some parts extend into the London Borough of Lambeth, London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Bromley. Upper Norwood...
, then Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, now South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, became a meeting place for the rich and powerful.
Life
She was born Mary Davis, in poverty and of unknown parentage. Her enemies later alleged that she had been born ‘in a wheelbarrow’ in Covent GardenCovent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. She was also early on known as Polly Davis.
Her society career began as an artist's model for Sir Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
in 1764. Through this connection she began her career as a courtesan. Simon Luttrell
Simon Luttrell, 1st Earl of Carhampton
Simon Luttrell, 1st Earl of Carhampton was a British politician and Irish nobleman.He was the second son of Col. Henry Luttrell, of Luttrellstown...
, nicknamed the King of Hell and later first earl of Carhampton, was possibly her original seducer. Her association with Luttrell may be the origin of her later nickname of Hellfire Davies.
Through Luttrell she was introduced to Alexander Nesbitt (bap 1730 - d 1772), the youngest of three sons of Thomas Nesbitt, a merchant banker in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
Mary married Nesbitt, on 25 February 1768, at St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
, with Luttrell as a witness. Nesbitt settled on her for life his house and estate at Upper Norwood in Surrey. The couple also had a residence at 10 Buckingham Street, London.
Alexander Nesbitt suffered a mental collapse and was confined in private lodgings near Blackfriars
Blackfriars
Blackfriars is an area of central London, which lies in the south-west corner of the City of London.The name Blackfriars was first used in 1317 and derives from the black cappa worn by the Dominican Friars who moved their priory from Holborn to the area between the River Thames and Ludgate Hill in...
around 1769, he died in 1772. Mary's enemies, the news sheet Tête-à-tête and the anonymous Junius, attributed his insanity to her disrespectful treatment of him.
Around 1771 Mary became the mistress of the Hon. Augustus John Hervey
Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol
Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, PC was a British admiral and politician.-Naval career:As a young man, he entered the Navy, where his promotion was rapid...
(1724–1779), a naval officer, and second son of Lord Hervey of Ickworth (1696–1743). Hervey became third earl of Bristol in 1775, and Mary and Augustus lived together, apparently faithfully, at Norwood House. They also had residences at 6 St James's Square, London and at Ickworth House
Ickworth House
Ickworth House is a country house outside Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. It is a neoclassical structure topped by a giant rotunda in a park extending to 1800 acres. It is in the care of the National Trust, and, as part of the Ickworth House, Park & Garden property, is open to the...
, Suffolk. They were prevented from marrying when the earl's divorce petition was dismissed in 1779.
On Hervey's death in 1779 Mary received the manor of Evedon
Evedon
Evedon is a village and former civil parish east of the town of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England. The parish was amalgamated in 1931 with that of Ewerby, to form Ewerby and Evedon civil parish....
, other land in Lincolnshire, and £5000 from the sale of about 186 acre (0.75271596 km²) in Suffolk. She also received a share of the stock and furniture at 6 St James's Square and at Ickworth, valued at £7378 12s. 11d. She continued to live at her own house in Upper Norwood which she enlarged.
Her salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
at Norwood, was frequented by men such as George Rose
George Rose
The Right Honourable George Rose was a British politician.Born at Woodside near Brechin, Scotland, Rose was the son of the Reverend David Rose of Lethnot, by Margaret, daughter of Donald Rose of Wester Clune...
, secretary to the Treasury, and many young aspirants to political office. During the French Revolution she traveled in diplomatic circles on the continent. This may indicate that she had been recruited by prime minister William Pitt
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
as a government agent in his covert attempts to restore the French monarchy. She now attracted public praise. On 25 September 1797, the Morning Chronicle
Morning Chronicle
The Morning Chronicle was a newspaper founded in 1769 in London, England, and published under various owners until 1862. It was most notable for having been the first employer of Charles Dickens, and for publishing the articles by Henry Mayhew which were collected and published in book format in...
acknowledged that "this celebrated woman", despite "the miscellany of her life", had "acquired an elevation … which she has preserved with dignity", using "her influence with the great in favour of the unfortunate".
She was forced to let Norwood House due to reduced financial circumstances in the early 19th century. Mary then frequently lived abroad, where in 1808 she met Madame Tussaud and bought her a house in Crystal Palace. It is believed from there she took up her world famous waxwork museum in 1821 at Montreuil-sur-Mer
Montreuil-sur-Mer
Montreuil or Montreuil-sur-Mer is a sub-prefecture in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is located on the Canche river, not far from Étaples...
, Pas-de-Calais, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and in 1822 in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
She is believed to have died, aged eighty-two, in Paris, where she was buried on 4 November 1825.