Mary Robinson (poet)

Mary Robinson was an English actress, poet, dramatist, novelist, and celebrity figure. During her lifetime she was known as the English Sappho. She earned her nickname Perdita for her role as Perdita in 1779. She was the first public mistress of King George IV while he was still Prince of Wales.

Robinson was born in Bristol, England to John Darby, a naval captain, and his wife Hester . In her memoirs, Robinson gives her birth in 1758 but the year 1757 seems more likely according to recently published research . Her father deserted her mother and took on a mistress when Robinson was still a child. The family hoped for a reconciliation, but Captain Darby made it clear that this was not going to happen. Without the support of her husband, Hester Darby supported herself and the five children born of the marriage by starting a school for young girls in Little Chelsea, London, . However, during one of his brief returns to the family, Captain Darby had the school closed . Robinson, who at one point attended a school run by the social reformer Hannah More, came to the attention of actor David Garrick.

Source: Wikipedia