Mary Anne Clarke

Mary Anne Clarke ( born April 3, 1776 Mary Anne Thompson, † June 21, 1852 in Paris) was the mistress of Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, and led, after they had to leave the United Kingdom, in Paris, a literary salon.

Life

In 1803, she became the mistress of the Duke of York, who was commander in chief of the British Army at that time. 1809 there was a scandal after it was discovered that Mary Anne Clarke officer post of the British Army sold. York was bound to be in command of the British Army to give up, but was later acquitted and to his office again. 1813 Mary Anne Clarke was sentenced to a prison term.

After her release, she lived in France, where she held a prestigious literary salon in Paris. Her daughter married Louis -Mathurin Busson du Maurier and was mother of the caricaturist George du Maurier. She is also the great-grandmother of the writer Daphne du Maurier, who wrote the book about her great-grandmother Mary Anne.