Maria Gisborne manuscript material

1832-1833

Maria Gisborne [née James; first married name Reveley], friend of William Godwin and Mary and Percy Shelley. In her teens, she studied painting with Angelica Kauffman in Rome. She met William Godwin through her first husband, William Reveley, an English architect with whom she had one son, Henry. When Reveley died in 1799, Maria declined several marriage proposals from Godwin, instead marrying John Gisborne the next year. The Gisbornes moved to Italy in 1801 and became important friends of Percy and Mary Shelley when the young couple visited them at their home in Leghorn in 1818. In 1821, Maria and John returned to England, eventually retiring to Plymouth. · Entries in the Gisborne Letterbook : 1832-1833 : (S'ANA 0545) : in John Gisborne's hand, the entire notebook includes 12 copies and extracts (lettered A-L) of important letters by himself, his wife, and correspondents. The Maria Gisborne material is on the subject of the philosopher and reformer Jeremy Bentham, and includes : (A) To Jeremy Bentham : 1 letter : 17 May 1832 : describing the principal events of her life since the time he last saw her. -- (C) To Mary Shelley, novelist : 1 letter : 1 Aug 1832. -- (D) To Henry Reveley, marine engineer (her son) : 1 letter extract : [ca. 1 Aug 1832]. -- (F) To Sir John Bowring, politician and writer : 1 letter : 23 Aug 1832. -- (H) : "Recollections of Jeremy Bentham put together by Maria at the request of Dr. Bowring" : 11 Sep 1832. Also included is an extract of a letter from Mary Shelley to Maria Gisborne dated 21 Aug 1832 (E). For the remaining entries, see records for John Gisborne manuscript material and Sir John Bowring manuscript material.