b. 12 March 1799. d. 30 January 1888. Nationality: English. VIAF.
Poet, children’s writer, editor, and translator. Née Botham. Raised a Quaker. Succeeded
Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) as the editor for the *Drawing Room Scrapbook*
in 1839. Published *Howitt’s Journal* from 1847-1848, but the journal quickly went
bankrupt. Married William Howitt, a Quaker and writer, on 16 April 1821, though they
would both eventually leave the Society of Friends in 1847 and adopt spiritualist
beliefs. The Howitts moved to Heidelberg in 1840 but Mary eventually returned to London
from 1852-1854 while her husband and sons were in Australia. In 1870, the Howitts
divided their time between Italy and the Tyrol. Author of *Hymns and Fireside Verses*
(1839), *Tales for the People and their Children* (1844), *My Own Story* (1845), and
*Ballads and Other Poems* (1847). Translated works by Frederika Bremer and Hans Christian
Anderson. Biographical information: *ODNB*. (SP)