Margaret Agnew Blennerhassett
Margaret Agnew Blennerhassett was an Irish-born poet and the wife of Harman Blennerhassett, whom she married in 1796. Despite familial disapproval, the couple emigrated to America in 1798, establishing a notable residence on an island in the Ohio River, where they hosted prominent figures of the era. Their fortune suffered a significant blow due to Harman's involvement in the controversial Aaron Burr affair, leading to the loss of their home and wealth. Following this turmoil, the Blennerhassetts moved to Mississippi and later to Montreal, Canada, where Margaret published her poetry as a means to support her family. Her first collection, "The Deserted Isle," reflects her sorrow over the loss of their home, while her subsequent work continued to address themes of loss and longing. Although her poetry is characterized by conventional forms and has not gained widespread acclaim for originality, it holds historical significance as part of early nineteenth-century Canadian literature. After a period in Europe, Blennerhassett returned to New York to seek restitution for her family's losses, but she passed away before any resolution could be achieved.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Margaret Agnew Blennerhassett
Poet
- Born: c. 1788
- Birthplace: Ireland
- Died: June 20, 1842
- Place of death: New York
Biography
Born in Ireland, Margaret Agnew Blennerhassett was the daughter of the lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man. She married her uncle, Harman Blennerhassett, in 1796, despite the disapproval of their family. In 1798, Blennerhassett followed her husband to America, where they settled on an island in the Ohio River. The Blennerhassetts built a huge mansion and were known as lavish hosts who entertained prominent American figures like Henry Clay and Walt Whitman. During their time in the United States, Blennerhassett’s husband lost their home, possessions, and a large portion of their fortune as a result of his involvement in the Aaron Burr affair in 1806. After living for a while on a plantation in Mississippi, Blennerhassett and her husband relocated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1819.
Blennerhassett published her first book of poetry, The Deserted Isle, in 1822. It is believed that she published her poems in an attempt to supplement her family’s income. Her works were published anonymously, as was the tradition of the time, but the city people knew them as “Mrs. Blennerhassett’s poems.” Her first volume was followed by The Widow of the Rock, and Other Poems two years later. Her most anthologized poem, “The Deserted Isle,” mourns the western Virginia island home her husband lost after the Aaron Burr scandal. Blennerhassett’s poetry is of a fairly standard form with end-stops and rhymed lines which tend to obscure the poem. While Blennerhasset’s poetry is not noted for its originality, it has a place in history as an example of early Canadian literature from the nineteenth century.
Around 1824, Blennerhassett returned to Europe, where her husband attempted to regain the estates he had sold when they left for the United States many years before. However, he was unsuccessful and died on the island of Guernsey in 1831. Blennerhassett lived on the island until 1842, when she returned to New York to seek compensation from Congress for the island home and possessions destroyed during her family’s previous time in the United States. She died in New York before any action could be taken.