Mary Sidgwick Benson
Encyclopedia
Mary Sidgwick Benson was a Victorian hostess, notable as the wife of Edward Benson, who later became archbishop of Canterbury, and for her later relationship with Lucy Tait, daughter of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Archibald Campbell Tait
. Born Mary Sidgwick and nicknamed Minnie, she was the sister of the philosopher Henry Sidgwick
. She was described by Gladstone
as the 'cleverest woman in Europe'.
by Frederick Temple
. They had six children. Their fifth child was the novelist E. F. Benson
. Another son was A. C. Benson, the author of the lyrics to Elgar's "Land of Hope and Glory
" and master of Magdalene College, Cambridge
. Their sixth and youngest child, Robert Hugh Benson
, became a minister of the Church of England before converting to Catholicism and writing many popular novels. Their daughter Margaret Benson
was an artist, author, and amateur Egyptologist. None of the children married; and some of them appeared to suffer from mental illnesses, probably bipolar disorder
. After Benson's death in 1896, Mary set up household with Lucy Tait, daughter of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Archibald Campbell Tait
, who had first moved in with the Bensons in 1889.
Archibald Campbell Tait
Archibald Campbell Tait was a priest in the Church of England and an Archbishop of Canterbury.-Life:Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Tait was educated at the Royal High School and at the Edinburgh Academy, where he was twice elected dux. His parents were Presbyterian but he early turned towards the...
. Born Mary Sidgwick and nicknamed Minnie, she was the sister of the philosopher Henry Sidgwick
Henry Sidgwick
Henry Sidgwick was an English utilitarian philosopher and economist. He was one of the founders and first president of the Society for Psychical Research, a member of the Metaphysical Society, and promoted the higher education of women...
. She was described by Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
as the 'cleverest woman in Europe'.
Life
She and Benson were married on 23 June 1859 at RugbyRugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
by Frederick Temple
Frederick Temple
Frederick Temple was an English academic, teacher, churchman and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1896 until his death.-Early life:...
. They had six children. Their fifth child was the novelist E. F. Benson
Edward Frederic Benson
Edward Frederic Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist and short story writer, known professionally as E.F. Benson. His friends called him Fred.-Life:E.F...
. Another son was A. C. Benson, the author of the lyrics to Elgar's "Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and Glory
"Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.- Composition :...
" and master of Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
. Their sixth and youngest child, Robert Hugh Benson
Robert Hugh Benson
Robert Hugh Benson was the youngest son of Edward White Benson and his wife, Mary...
, became a minister of the Church of England before converting to Catholicism and writing many popular novels. Their daughter Margaret Benson
Margaret Benson
Margaret Benson was an English author and amateur Egyptologist and one of the six children of Edward White Benson, an Anglican clergyman , and his wife Mary Sidgwick Benson, the sister of philosopher Henry Sidgwick...
was an artist, author, and amateur Egyptologist. None of the children married; and some of them appeared to suffer from mental illnesses, probably bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
. After Benson's death in 1896, Mary set up household with Lucy Tait, daughter of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, Archibald Campbell Tait
Archibald Campbell Tait
Archibald Campbell Tait was a priest in the Church of England and an Archbishop of Canterbury.-Life:Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Tait was educated at the Royal High School and at the Edinburgh Academy, where he was twice elected dux. His parents were Presbyterian but he early turned towards the...
, who had first moved in with the Bensons in 1889.
External links
- http://auden.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/auden/individual.php?pid=I10766&ged=auden-bicknell.ged
- http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/3683031/The_lesbians_of_Lambeth_Palace/