Mary Palmer

Mrs Mary Palmer, by her brother Sir Joshua Reynolds (d.1792). Collection of Plymouth City Council, Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, PLYMG.CO.15thumb Mary Palmer (née Reynolds; 9 February 1716 – 27 May 1794) was a British author from Devon who wrote Devonshire Dialogue, once considered the "best piece of literature in the vernacular of Devon." She was the mother of painter Theophila Gwatkin and sister of the artists Sir Joshua Reynolds and Frances Reynolds and of the pamphleteer Elizabeth Johnson.

Origins Mary was the eldest daughter and third child of Samuel Reynolds (1681–1745), master of the Plympton Earl grammar school, Devonshire, by his wife, Theophila Potter (1688–1756). She was seven years older than her brother Joshua Reynolds and her fondness for drawing is said to have influenced him when a boy. In 1740 she provided £60, half of the premium paid to Thomas Hudson the portrait-painter, for Joshua's pupilage, and 9 years later advanced money for his expenses in Italy. Joshua Reynolds painted two portraits of his sister Mary, one made about 1747, the other when she was aged about 60 years of age. Both portraits descended to her great-grandson, George Stawell of Great Torrington. A complete version was edited by her daughter Theophila Gwatkin in 1839, and another edition was published in 1869.

Marriage On 18 July 1740 Mary Reynolds married John Palmer (1708–1779) of Great Torrington, Devonshire, a lawyer

Children John and Mary Palmer had five children, two sons and three daughters: |group="nb" Elizabeth Palmer (1758–1784) married William Salkeld at Great Torrington, Devon, on 26 April 1781.