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SMITH, LADY PLEASANCE (1773-1877)

Pleasance Reeve, Lady Smith, was born on 11 May 1773 at Lowestoft. She was the fifth child of Robert Reeve (1739-1815), attorney and merchant, and Pleasance Clerke (1739-1820).

Her famous beauty was captured by John Opie RA, who painted her portrait more than once. Opie's portrait of LADY SMITH AS A GYPSY was purchased for his Piccadilly mansion by the Earl of Coventry, who would have known her and her husband socially.

In 1796 she married James Edward Smith, founder and president of the Linnean Society. He was fourteen years older than her.

With her husband, she cherished his collection of the books, manuscripts and specimens assembled by Carolus Linnaeus the botanist. Smith continued to collect books and objects of interest.

They lived briefly in London, then settled in Norwich. They enjoyed a happy marriage, during which he loved to give her unusual presents. In 1828 her husband died and she moved back to her native Lowestoft. The Linnaeus collection was sold to the Linnaean Society.

She survived her husband for nearly forty-nine years, living to the age of 103. There were no children. She was known as a great reader and letter writer. She took a lively interest in literature, sermons and politics. She edited her husband's memoirs and presented the Linnean Society with nineteen volumes of his letters.

Throughout her 103 years she loved to write letters and she kept in touch with numerous people. Lady Smith became something of a celebrity herself as a result of her longevity- her 100th birthday was an important event. She died at home in her sleep on 3 February 1877. For her funeral the shops in Lowestoft were closed and people lined the streets. She was buried beside her husband at St Margaret's church, where a stained-glass window was set up as a memorial.

Alice Pleasance Liddell, Lewis Carroll's Alice, was her great-neice.

REFERENCES: OXFORD DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY