Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley

Lady Mary Wortley (1689-1762), an English writer. Her maiden name was Pierrepont. Her husband was a Whig officeholder under George I. Lady Montagu was a witty, entertaining woman of great beauty. Her home was the resort of the literary people of the day--Pope, Congreve, Addison, etc. In 1716 Montagu was appointed minister to Turkey. Lady Mary, who accompanied him, wrote home a series of Turkish Letters that created quite a sensation. A later quarrel with Pope occasioned much amusement. She is remembered in medical circles as an advocate of the Turkish system of inoculation for smallpox.