Mary ann clark biography

English courtesan and diarist (1776–1852)

Mary Anne Clarke (born Mary Anne Thompson; 3 April 1776 – 21 June 1852) was the mistress of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany.^[1] Their relationship began in 1803, while he was Commander-in-Chief of the army.

Later in 1809, she wrote her memoirs which were published.^[2] She was the subject of a portrait by Adam Buck, and a caricature by Isaac Cruikshank; ten days after the latter's publication, the Duke resigned from his post as Commander of the British Army.

In 1811, she commissioned Irish sculptor Lawrence Gahagan to sculpt a marble bust of her; this is now housed in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Through her daughter Ellen, who married Louis-Mathurin Busson du Maurier, Clarke was a great-great grandmother of author Daphne du Maurier, who wrote the novel Mary Anne about her life.

Life as a courtesan

Mary Anne Thompson was born on 3 April 1776 in London, the daughter