Anne Donnellan

Anne Donnellan (1700 – 21 May 1762) was an Irish promoter of literature, learning, and the arts, and literary critic. She has been referred to as an Irish "proto Bluestocking."

Early life and family Anne Donnellan was born around 1700, the daughter of Nehemiah Donnellan and his estranged second wife, Martha Donnellan (née Ussher) (1677–1751). There is no record of Donnellan's birth or baptism, but later records state that she was in her late twenties in 1729. Her mother remarried in 1712 or 1713, Philip Perceval, and from 1727 Donnellan lived with them in Middlesex. She would occasionally return to Ireland, sometimes for years at a time. When her sister, Catherine, married Robert Clayton in 1728, he gave Catherine's dowry to Donnellan which gave her financial independence. Her brother Christopher, also supported her. Donnellan never married, but her friend Elizabeth Montagu wrote in a letter that Donnellan had refused a proposal from George Berkeley. Handel left Donnellan £50 in his will. She was associated with the nascent Bluestockings group through her friendship with Montagu. She encouraged Montagu to continue with her education.

It does not appear that Donnellan aspired to be a published writer, she often was engaged in the criticism of the unpublished works of others. After meeting Samuel Richardson in 1750, they became frequent correspondents and close friends, with both of them leaving a bequest of mourning rings in their respective wills. When she visited Dublin in 1751, Richardson sought her advice on his History of Sir Charles Grandison (1754).

Death and legacy She suffered an unnamed illness in 1733 to 1734 which caused her pains in her arms and legs. Donnellan's siblings died in quick succession in 1751 and 1752, which resulted in trauma due to disputes over their wills. Following this her health declined and she died on 21 May 1762 at Hanover Square, Middlesex. In 1731, she was painted in a family groups of the Wesleys by William Hogarth. A miniature of Donnellan from 1751 painted by Rupert Barber is held in the collections of the Ulster Museum.