Mary Moutray

Mary Moutray born Mary Pemble (bap. 1752 – 1844) was a naval wife of John Moutray who was the Royal Commissioner in Antigua. Horatio Nelson was besotted with her and Cuthbert Collingwood was another friend and admirer.

Life Moutray was baptised in Yorktown, Virginia in 1752. Her parents were Catherine Selby and Lieutenant John Pemble of HMS Tryton. She and John had twins in 1773 that they called Catherine and John. Nelson said that he cried when he first thought of Antigua without her. He said that her company was where he had "spent more happy hours than anywhere else".

After John Moutray died Mary petitioned for a pension and although she gained Royal support the request was denied by Lord Howe on the grounds that it might create a precedent for other claims. Some commentators have supposed that if John Moutray had died in Antigua then Nelson would have married Mary.