Kathye on Anne Killigrew

Mris. Anne Killigrew (Kathye Macias-Ramirez)

 

Born in 1660 in London at the start of the Restoration to an upper class family, Anne Killigrew lived a short life as an English poet, painter and supposed maid of honor to Mary of Modena. What is known about Killigrew, is known through the recorded lives of her family, her poems, and an ode to her by Dryden. She was secretly christened, for common prayer was not openly allowed. Killigrew’s family “. . .was closely involved with royalist politics,” her father, Henry Killigrew, was a clergyman appointed Master of the Savoy Hospital in Westminster. After being chaplain to James, Duke of York. The family was also involved with the theatre, her uncle and father in particular wrote plays. Though there is no evidence of the type of education she received, her understanding and inclusion of “. . .Greek and Roman mythology and of biblical history,” give an idea that her knowledge extended beyond conversational. Killigrew also ‘moved in court circles,’ and was said to have been a “maid of honour to Mary of Modena, wife of James, Duke of York,” however no record was kept to confirm the appointment. Nevertheless, her poems were circulated throughout court circles in manuscript. This circulation of poems was common in order to reach “‘fame’ or recognition by. . .peers.” The poem, Upon the saying that my verses were made by another, shows Killigrew’s motivation to be recognized for her work. After her death, her father asked Dryden to write an ode to the memory of his daughter. Dryden describes Killigrew as a blossoming prodigy that did not live to her potential, while also commemorating her father’s skill as encouragement to Killigrew’s work. A few months after her death her father published a book of her poems concluding what would be known of Anne Killigrew. 

Dryden's poem on Killigrew

Main Source: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/killigrew/biography.html