b. 14 August 1802. d. 15 October 1838. Nationality: English. VIAF.
Poet, novelist, and editor. Prolific writer and major influence on Victorian women’s
poetry. Signatures: “L. E. L.”, “L.”, “Miss Landon.” Her first poem, “Rome”, was published
in the *Literary Gazette* under the pseudonym “L.” Closely involved in literary annuals
as editor and contributor (especially *Heath’s Book of Beauty*, *Fisher’s Drawing
Room Scrap Book*), and provided metrical translations for the poetry in Isabel Hill’s
English translation of Germaine de Staël’s best-selling *Corinne; or, Italy* (1833).
Briefly engaged in 1834 to John Forster, editor of *The Examiner. Married George Maclean
(governor of the Gold Coast of Africa [Ghana]) on 7 June 1838, but died two months’
later after ingesting prussic acid in suspicious circumstances. Biographic information:
*ODNB*. (SP, AC)