Margaret Meen

Margaret Meen (1751-1834) was an English watercolour painter. Known for botanical illustrations (often painted on vellum), Margaret Meen taught this art to Queen Charlotte and her daughters; as well as to the four daughters (and several grand daughters) of Joshua Smith (English politician), MP.

Life

The daughter of Henry and Sarah Meen, Margaret was born in Bungay, Suffolk or more likely in Harleston, Norfolk, where she was baptised in December 1751. She moved to London to teach drawing flowers and insects in 1770. She earned money as a teacher of drawing. Her students included the four daughters of the member of parliament for Devizes, Joshua Smith, in the 1780s.

Margaret Meen continued teaching, at schools and in homes of private pupils, throughout the 1820s. She died in Bath, her burial registered in the parish of Walcot, Somerset on 9 January 1834. Her probated will (28 January 1834) appears listed as "Will of Margaret Meen, Spinster of Loughton, Essex" online at The National Archives.