Digital Victorian Periodical Poetry

Poet and singer. Alternative signature: Eliza Linley. Born in Bath, Somerset. Daughter of Thomas Linley (1733–1795), a musician, and Mary Johnson (1729–1820). Likely educated at Wells. Began performing publicly in her youth. Fled to France in 1772 with Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816), an Irish playwright, poet, and politician, whom she secretly married in 1773. Became a muse for artists such as Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. Upon marriage, Sheridan ended her public singing career. Contributed to his theatrical work and political career, participating in Whig election campaigns. Died in Clifton, Gloucestershire. Biographical information: ODNB. (NM)