Margaret Wilson

Margaret Harries Wilson (also known as Mrs. Cornwell Baron Wilson; 1796–1846) was an English poet, playwright, lyricist, writer and editor. She is considered one of the first female biographers.

Life Margaret Harries was born in Shropshire in 1796. She created her first book of poetry in 1815, and after her second poetry collection was published, she married a solicitor in 1819. After this, she worked under her married name. Wilson was content to be "a domestic poet" as she considered that men could have larger ambitions. Wilson had a number of children, several of whom died, and this became a theme of several of her publications.

Wilson wrote for journals including The Literary Magnet, Forget Me Not, Friendship's Offering, The Keepsake and Pledge of Friendship. She wrote poems, prose and music and this was presented in her own 1833 publication, La Ninon, or, Leaves for the Album. Contributors to this included the notable writers Mary Howitt and Agnes Strickland. A publication that became New Monthly Belle Assemblée was also started in 1833, with Wilson as its first editor, and this also included items on fashion. Wilson also wrote plays and one was retitled as Venus in Arms and it was performed at the Strand Theatre in 1836.

Wilson died in London on 12 January 1846.

Selected works Hours at Home: a Collection of Miscellaneous Poems, 1826 The Cypress Wreath: a Collection of Original Ballads and Tales in Verse, 1828 Poems, 1831 Water Music, a Collection of National Melodies … Arranged with a Guitar Accompaniment, 1832 The Life and Correspondence of M. G. Lewis, 1839 A Volume of Lyrics, 1840 Chronicles of Life, 1840 Popularity: and the Destinies of Woman: Tales of the World, 1842 Our Actresses; or Glances at Stage Favourites past and present, 1844