Record

Entry Type	Person
Surname	Howitt
Forenames	Mary
Also Known As	Mary Botham
Title	Mrs
Epithet	Poet and author
Dates	1799-1888
Gender Identity	Female
Biography	Mary was born in Colesford, Gloucestershire, to Quakers Samuel and Ann Botham. The family lived in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Mary began writing verse when young, She married Heanor chemist and druggist William Howitt in 1821 and lived with him there before the couple moved to Nottingham. Together, William and Mary began a long writing career that involved co-authoring books and publishing separately; Mary's name is attached to over 110 works. Mary wrote poetry (including her most famous poem, 'The Spider and the Fly') and books for children amongst other works. From 1840 to 1843, the Howitts lived in Heidelberg, Germany. Whilst there, Mary learned Danish and Swedish, and Mary subsequently translated Frederika Bremer's novels and some of Hans Christian Anderson's stories. Mary died in Rome in 1888. She and William had several children including Anna Mary Howitt, who wrote 'An Art-Student in Munich'and Australian explorer Alfred William Howitt.
Authorised Form of Name	Howitt; Mary (1799-1888); Mrs; Poet and author

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