Blessington, Marguerite Gardiner (1789-1849)

Irish writer. A leading member of literary society, she published Conversations with Lord Byron 1834, travel sketches (The Idler in Italy 1839, The Idler in France 1841), and novels.

She was born in Knockbrett, Tipperary. On a tour of Europe 1822 she met many distinguished people, including the poet Byron. She lived in Paris until 1829, then moved to London, where she was a leader in the world of literature, music, and art. Later she went bankrupt and lived under the protection of Count Alfred d'Orsay (1801-1852).