Mrs Peter Whitcombe, also known as Elizebeth Sherard, was a remarkable woman who lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Although little is known about her early life, she became well known in London society for her beauty and charm. She was the wife of Peter Whitcombe, a wealthy merchant, and the couple had several children together.
One of Mrs Whitcombe’s most notable accomplishments was her role in the abolitionist movement. She was a close friend of William Wilberforce, the famous British politician and abolitionist, and she supported his efforts to end the slave trade. She was also a patron of the artist Benjamin West, who painted several portraits of her and her family.
Mrs Whitcombe was known for her kindness and generosity, and she frequently donated money to charitable causes. She was especially concerned with helping the poor and the sick, and she founded a number of charitable organizations to assist those in need. She was also a patron of the arts, and she supported several writers and artists who were struggling to make a living.
Despite her many accomplishments, Mrs Whitcombe’s life was not without its difficulties. Her husband suffered from mental illness, and she was forced to care for him throughout their marriage. She also experienced the loss of several of her children, which was a common experience for women in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Mrs Whitcombe died in 1824 at the age of 72. Although she may not be as well known as some of her contemporaries, such as Jane Austen or Mary Wollstonecraft, she was a remarkable woman who made important contributions to her community and to society as a whole. Her legacy lives on through her charitable work, her patronage of the arts, and her support of the abolitionist movement.
Credit: OpenAI’s ChatGPT: https://openai.com/
Links:
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/mary-sherard-d-1663-mrs-peter-whitcombe-176449
https://useum.org/artwork/Mary-Sherard-Mrs-Peter-Whitcombe-d-1663-Willem-Wissing-1683