16 Facts About Laetitia Pilkington

Laetitia Pilkington is known for her Memoirs which document much of what is known about Jonathan Swift.

Laetitia Pilkington was born either in Cork, where her parents lived at their marriage, or Dublin, where they moved by 1711.

When Laetitia Pilkington visited in 1733, she found her husband had become involved in numerous political schemes, neglected his clerical duties, and enjoyed the pleasures of the West End.

Laetitia Pilkington spent the carriage ride there fighting off Worsdale's advances and returning to London the following day.

In 1734, Laetitia Pilkington returned to Dublin with her husband, who was arrested for corruption.

Laetitia Pilkington started an affair with Robert Adair.

Laetitia Pilkington immediately banished her from the house and prevented her from seeing her children or taking any money or possessions.

Laetitia Pilkington sold Worsdale poetry that he claimed for himself.

Laetitia Pilkington took up residence under the name of "Mrs Meade".

Laetitia Pilkington took up lodgings opposite White's, an exclusive club in St James and engaged in witty combat with members that stood outside.

Laetitia Pilkington sold verses to Cibber's friends to pass off as their own.

Laetitia Pilkington lived commission to commission and was arrested in 1742 for a two pound debt.

Laetitia Pilkington was imprisoned for three months in the Marshalsea gaol.

Laetitia Pilkington wrote to numerous requests for help with Cibber was able to arrange sixteen dukes to send her a guinea each.

The first two volumes of the Memoirs appeared in 1748, and a third volume was unfinished at her death, although her son, John Carteret Laetitia Pilkington, had it published in 1754.

One influence on the Memoirs is contemporary poet Alexander Pope; critic Annie Persons has displayed how Laetitia Pilkington's Memoirs seek to "reconfigure literary hierarchies" by putting herself within Pope's literary history.