Gardiner, Marguerite, Countess of Blessington (F)

b. 1 September 1789. d. 4 June 1849. Nationality: Irish. VIAF.
Author, poet, editor, and salon hostess. Née “Power.” Aunt of writer Marguerite Agnes Power. Became editor of *The Keepsake* in 1841. Forced by her parents to marry Captain Maurice St. Leger Farmer when she was fourteen, but their relationship ended after her husband moved to India. Married Charles John Gardiner (1st earl of Blessington) on 16 February 1818, following her husband’s death. Closely connected with major literary figures including Thomas Moore, Charles Dickens, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, and William Jerdan. Close friends with Lord Byron, a friendship she documented in *Journal of Conversations with Lord Byron* and first published in instalments in the *New Monthly* from 1832-1833. Biographical information: *ODNB*. (SP)

Poems associated with this person

Poem title Date Periodical Roles id #
Lines 1832 The Keepsake Poet 14231
Stanzas 1832 The Keepsake Poet 3570
Stock in Trade of Modern Poetesses 1833 The Keepsake Poet 3780
Stanzas 1833 The Keepsake Poet 3778
Twilight 1833 The Keepsake Poet 3788
Stanzas 1834 The Keepsake Poet 3849
The Fane of Memory 1834 The Keepsake Poet 3854
The Storm 1834 The Keepsake Poet 3861
The Widowed Mother 1835 The Keepsake Poet 3868
Stanzas 1835 The Keepsake Poet 3888
A Friend 1835 The Keepsake Poet 3883
Francesca Foscari 1837 The Keepsake Poet 4416
To Spring 1841 Forget-Me-Not Poet 15370
The Lord of Riccia’s Heir 1843 The Keepsake Poet 4970
Memory and Hope 1844 Forget-Me-Not Poet 15460
Lord Byron’s Room in the Palazzo Moncenigo, at Venice 1845 The Keepsake Poet 5154
Soliloquy of a Modern Fine Lady 1845 The Keepsake Poet 5167
Sala di Gran Senata, at Venice 1846 The Keepsake Poet 5187
Cortile Salviati 1846 The Keepsake Poet 5179
Lines on the Portrait of the Princess Royal 1846 The Keepsake Poet 5173
The Tale of the Baptistry of St. Mark’s 1847 The Keepsake Poet 5200
On Titian’s Studio 1847 The Keepsake Poet 5211
Venezia 1847 The Keepsake Poet 5205
The Grand Staircase of the Chamber of Peers, Palace of the Luxembourg 1848 The Keepsake Poet 5494
The Gallery of Diana at Fontainebleau 1848 The Keepsake Poet 5501