Margaret "Peggy" Boswell born Margaret Montgomerie (1738 – 4 June 1789) was the Scottish wife and cousin of the diarist

James Boswell James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck (; 29 October 1740 (New Style, N.S.) – 19 May 1795), was a Scottish biographer, diarist, and lawyer, born in Edinburgh. He is best known for his biography of his friend and older contemporary the Englis ...

Life

She was born in about 1738 at

Lainshaw The Lands of Lainshaw lie in Strathannick and were part of the Lordship of Stewarton, in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Lainshaw House is a category B listed mansion, lying in a prominent position above the Annick Water and its holm in the Parish of ...

in Ayrshire. She was soon an orphan as her father James Boswell (seventh laird of Auchinleck) and her mother Lady Elizabeth (born Bruce) died while she was young. Her father's elder sister, Elizabeth, inherited, but they left her an annuity worth £1000 which would bring her an income of £100 every year. James was open with her before their marriage telling her of his "a disposition to melancholy and the most violent passion for the family of Auchinicck". She married her first cousin who was

. They married in London and the witnesses to their marriage included

Archibald Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas Archibald James Edward Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas (10 July 1748 – 26 December 1827), was a Scottish politician. Early life He was born Archibald James Edward Stewart, in Paris,G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. Wh ...

, the writer

Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...

and the Corsican statesman

Pasquale Paoli Filippo Antonio Pasquale de' Paoli (; french: link=no, Pascal Paoli; 6 April 1725 – 5 February 1807) was a Corsican patriot, statesman, and military leader who was at the forefront of resistance movements against the Genoese and later ...

. The marriage contract is now held by Yale University. Once married their social life was based at their house in James Court in Edinburgh. Her substantial annuity did not prevent the couple from being debt for all of their marriage. James described her as a "heathen goddess" who was treated to double standards. James berated her when he thought she was too friendly with men, but his friendliness with women resulted in two children Charles Boswell and Sally. Margaret would respond to his unfaithfulness by refusing his advances in "a divorce", but she would in time forgive him. In 1783 she was at the family seat of

Auchinleck House Auchinleck House is an 18th-century mansion in Scotland. It is situated near the town of Auchinleck near Cumnock and Ayr in East Ayrshire. The Auchinleck Estate has been inhabited since the 13th century, and the remains of Auchinleck Castle and A ...

where she catalogued the valuable library of books at the house. left, The family portrait by Henry Singleton Henry Singleton created a group painting of Margaret's family in about 1786. On the left of the painting was her husband and she was on the right holding a six year old Elizabeth Boswell. The other two figures in the painting are Veronica and James (the younger). Boswell died in Auchinleck on 4 June 1789 just before her husband arrived after rushing from London to be with her. James broke with tradition and he attended Margaret's funeral on the 11 June. Despite her annuity, James was in debt when she died. She was interred beneath the church, but her body was exhumed and moved later. Their children were Alexander, James the younger, Veronica, Euphemia and Elizabeth Boswell.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boswell, Margaret 1738 births 1789 deaths People from East Ayrshire James Boswell