Scandalous Facts About Mary Robinson, The English Sappho
Honestly, most women can only hope to be half the babe that Mary Robinson was. This royal mistress had one beautiful brain to go along with her busty figure, and she loved showing off both, indulging in poetry and publicity campaigns alike.
Still, all beauty fades—though in Mary’s case, it plummeted down into one heartbreaking end.
Mary Robinson Facts
1. Her Childhood Seemed Perfect
Mary Robinson’s early life looked idyllic on the outside. Her father, Nicholas Darby, was a dashing Naval captain, and mother Hester doted on the young girl after giving birth to her on November 27, 1756.
The good-looking couple seemed warm and comfortable with their growing family…but in truth, they were rotting from the inside out.
2. She Had Abandonment Issues
When Mary was still just a child, her father dealt her a nasty betrayal. Captain Darby up and left the family to live with his mistress, completely deserting poor Hester and not bothering to send any money to support her or the children. When Hester begged Daddy to change his mind and come home, he staunchly refused. And then he really dug the knife in.
3. Her Father Was Cruel To Her
With no other way to make ends meet, Mary’s mother Hester started a school for girls in London, even employing Mary as a teacher there when her daughter started showing a quick mind and an easy character.
It was all going so swimmingly…until Captain Darby swooped in to close down Mary’s mother’s school, just because he could.
Then, he left just as quickly as he’d reappeared. Dad of the year, this one. Sadly, worse was coming for Mary.
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