Flora Macdonald Mayor (20 October 1872, Kingston Hill,

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

– 28 January 1932, Hampstead, London), was an English novelist and short story writer, who published under the name F. M. Mayor.

Life and work

Flora MacDonald Mayor was born on 20 October 1872, at Kingston Hill, Surrey. Her father,

Joseph Bickersteth Mayor Rev. Joseph Bickersteth Mayor (24 October 1828 – 29 November 1916) was an English professor, classical scholar, and Anglican clergyman. Early life and education Mayor was born in Cape Colony''1911 England Census'' while his parents returne ...

(1828–1916), was an

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

clergyman and professor of classics and then of moral philosophy at

King's College London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...

. John E. B. Mayor was her uncle. Her mother, Alexandrina Jessie Grote (1830–1927), was niece of the

utilitarian In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for all affected individuals. Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different charac ...

George Grote George Grote (; 17 November 1794 – 18 June 1871) was an English political radical and classical historian. He is now best known for his major work, the voluminous ''History of Greece''. Early life George Grote was born at Clay Hill near Be ...

as well as the

clergyman and Cambridge moral philosophy professor

John Grote John Grote (5 May 1813, Beckenham – 21 August 1866, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire) was an English moral philosopher and Anglican clergyman. Life and career The son of a banker, John Grote was younger brother to the historian, philosopher and ...

. Flora had two older brothers – Robert J. G. Mayor (1869–1947) and Henry B. Mayor (1870–1948) – and a twin sister, Alice M. Mayor (1872–1961). Flora was educated at

Surbiton High School Surbiton High School is a private independent school in Surbiton in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, England. It has seven buildings overall including the Boys’ Preparatory School, Girls’ Preparatory School, the Se ...

and read history at

Newnham College, Cambridge Newnham College is a women's Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1871 by a group organising Lectures for Ladies, members of which included philosopher Henry Sid ...

. Afterwards she became an actress. She later turned to writing. Her first book was a collection of short stories, ''Mrs Hammond's Children'', published in 1901 under the pseudonym Mary Strafford. In 1903 she became engaged to a young architect, Ernest Shepherd, who died in India of

typhoid Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

before Mayor was able to travel out to join him. She never married, and lived closely with her twin sister Alice MacDonald Mayor (1872–1961). In 1913 her short novel, ''The Third Miss Symons'', was published, with a preface by

John Masefield John Edward Masefield (; 1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967) was an English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate from 1930 until 1967. Among his best known works are the children's novels ''The Midnight Folk'' and ''The Box of Delights'', and the poem ...

. Her best-known novel is ''The Rector's Daughter'' (1924). (In October 2009 this was described in the BBC's 'Open Book' programme as one of the best 'neglected classics'.) She also wrote ghost stories, which were much admired by

M.R. James Montague Rhodes James (1 August 1862 – 12 June 1936) was an English author, medievalist scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918), and of Eton College (1918–1936). He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambrid ...

. She died on 28 January 1932 in Hampstead, London. Her correspondence and some literary papers are held at

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

Selected works

*''Mrs Hammond's Children'' (1901) *''The Third Miss Symons'' (1913) *''The Rector's Daughter'' (1924) *''The Squire's Daughter'' (1929) *''The Room Opposite and Other Tales of Mystery and Imagination'' (1935)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mayor, F.M. 1872 births 1932 deaths 20th-century English novelists British short story writers English short story writers Alumni of Newnham College, Cambridge 20th-century British short story writers People educated at Surbiton High School Bickersteth family

Life and work

Selected works

References

Further reading

External links