Lady Charlotte Bury
Lady Charlotte Bury, born in 1775, was an influential British aristocrat and writer, hailing from a prominent Scottish family as the youngest daughter of the fifth Duke of Argyll. Although she had strong ties to the Scottish aristocracy, her formative years were primarily spent in London, France, and Italy, which greatly influenced her creative output. Bury married Colonel John Campbell in 1796, and after his untimely death ten years later, she faced the challenge of supporting her nine children. To do so, she took a position as lady-in-waiting to Princess Caroline in 1810, which allowed her to gain unique insights into royal life. During this period, she published her first novel, "Self-Indulgence," in 1812, and later married Edward Bury in 1818. Bury's literary career flourished, culminating in her most notable work, "Diary of a Lady-in-Waiting," published anonymously in 1838. This three-volume book offers a revealing look into the social and political climate of the time, showcasing her experiences and observations from her years at court. Lady Charlotte Bury remains a significant figure in the literary and social history of early 19th-century Britain.
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Subject Terms
Lady Charlotte Bury
Writer
- Born: January 28, 1775
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: March 31, 1861
Biography
Lady Charlotte Bury was born in 1775, the youngest daughter of the fifth Duke of Argyll. Despite her close ties to Scottish aristocracy, she was essentially a British aristocrat, having been shaped more by London’s culture than by Scottish influences. She spent many of her early years in London, France, and Italy, and her wide-ranging experiences and exposures informed her 1797 volume of poetry.
Bury married Colonel John Campbell in 1796, and the couple had nine children by the time of his death ten years later. Needing to support her children and herself, Bury accepted the position of lady-in-waiting to Princess Caroline in 1810. Caroline, the Princess of Wales, was then living separately from her husband at Montagu House in Blackheath, England, and Bury relocated nearby to Westwood House on Sydenham Hill. Additionally, it was during this time that Bury published her first novel, Self-Indulgence, which appeared in 1812.
While traveling in Europe, she met a minister named Edward Bury, and they married, returning to Westwood House in 1818. In later years, the family moved to London, where Bury continued to write novels as well as a second volume of poetry. Her roughly five years as lady-in- waiting to Princess Caroline culminated in Bury’s popular and revealing three volume book, Diary of a Lady-in-Waiting, her best-known work. The book was first published anonymously in 1838 as Diary Illustrative of the Times of George the Fourth: Interspersed with Original Letters from the Late Queen Caroline, and from Various Other Distinguished Persons.