Martha Giffard

Martha, Lady Giffard born Martha Temple (1639–1722) was an English letter writer and biographer. She was at her brother's side as he brought about the Triple Alliance in 1668 bringing peace to England and its neighbours.

Life Giffard was born in 1638. Her parents were John Temple and Mary (daughter of Dr. John Hammond, of Chertsey, Surrey ) and her mother died the year she was born. She had two elder brothers who survived childhood, William and John. She had an at home education.

On 21 April 1662 she married a royalist Sir Thomas Giffard, baronet of Castlejordan, County Meath who was a relation of Lord Halsbury. It was a short marriage as he died of natural causes on 4 May of the same year. She would not marry again and she was known for controlling her passion, although she was exchanging letters with the diplomat and potential suitor Sir William Godolphin.

Death and legacy In 1722, she died and she left money to Esther Johnson and Jonathon Swift's sister Mrs Fenton who had been her companion in 1711.