Miss Dorothea Parry (1876-1963), married April 12th 1898

Dorothea "Dolly" Ponsonby (1876 – 11 July 1963) was an English writer and close friends of the Llewelyn Davies and du Maurier families. She was the mother of

Elizabeth Ponsonby Hon. Elizabeth Ponsonby (28 December 190031 July 1940) was an English aristocrat who was a prominent member of the Bright Young Things, well-connected socialites who featured heavily in the contemporary tabloid press for what were perceived to be ...

of the Bright Young Things.

Biography

Dorothea "Dolly" Parry was born in 1876, the daughter of Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet and Lady Elizabeth Maude Herbert (1851–1933). Her sister was Gwendoline Maud Parry.Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003 On 12 April 1898 she married

Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (16 February 1871 – 23 March 1946), was a British politician, writer, and social activist. He was the son of Henry Ponsonby, Sir Henry Ponsonby, Private Secretary to Que ...

and had two children: Hon.

(1900–1940, married John Denis Cavendish Pelly) and

Matthew Ponsonby, 2nd Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede Matthew Henry Herbert Ponsonby, 2nd Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (26 July 190429 April 1976) was a British peer. Life Ponsonby was the son of Arthur Ponsonby, by his marriage to Dorothea Parry. He was educated at Leighton Park School and Balliol C ...

(1904–1976). In 1917, together with her husband, she wrote ''Rebels and Reformers''. She was a close friend of the Llewelyn Davies' family, a connection that started with her mother, Elizabeth Maude Herbert, who was friends (and admirer) of

Margaret Llewelyn Davies Margaret Caroline Llewelyn Davies (16 October 1861 – 28 May 1944) was a British social activist who served as general secretary of the Co-operative Women's Guild from 1889 until 1921. Her election has been described as a "turning point" in the ...

, and Dolly became friends with

Arthur Llewelyn Davies Arthur Llewelyn Davies (20 February 1863 – 19 April 1907) was an English barrister of Welsh origin, but is best known as the father of the boys who were the inspiration for the stories of Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. Biography Born 20 ...

and in particular close friend with Sylvia du Maurier. She was also a close friend of J. M. Barrie.

Death and legacy

Dorothea Ponsonby died on 11 July 1963. She left a body of letters and her diaries which provide a useful insight into her life and the notable people that she socialised with.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ponsonby, Dorothea 1876 births 1963 deaths 20th-century English women writers 20th-century English writers English letter writers Women letter writers English socialites English women writers Dorothea Women diarists Ponsonby of Shulbrede Daughters of baronets