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Callcott Maria
(1786—1844)
Books for children
Lady Maria Callcott, sometimes known as Maria Graham, was a British writer of travel books and children's books, but also an accomplished illustrator. She was born in Scotland as Maria Dundas, and didn't see much of her father during her childhood and teenage years, as he was one of the many naval officers that the Scottish Dundas clan has raised through the years. George Dundas (1756-1814) was made post-captain in 1795 and saw plenty of action as commander of HMS Juno, a 32 gun frigate, between 1798 and 1802. In 1803 he was given the command of HMS Elephant, a 74 gun third-rate that had been Nelson's flagship during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, and took her down to Jamaica to patrol the Caribbean waters until 1806.
In 1808 his sea-fighting years were over and he was made head of the naval works at the British East India Company's dockyard in Bombay, and brought his now 23-year old daughter along. During the long trip Maria fell in love with a young Scottish naval officer aboard, Thomas Graham, third son to Robert Graham, the last laird of Fintry. They married in India in 1809. In 1811, the young couple returned to England, where Maria published her first book, Journal of a Residence in India, followed soon afterwards by Letters on India. A few years later her father was appointed Commissioner of the naval dockyard in Capetown, where he died in 1814, aged 58, having been promoted rear-admiral just two months earlier.
With her first husband she travelled in India, South Africa and South America, where she acted for some time as teacher of Donna Maria, who became queen of Portugal in 1826; and in the company of her second husband she spent much time in the south of Europe. She published accounts of her visits to India (1812), and to the environs of Rome (1820); Memoirs of Poussin (1820); History of France; a History of Spain (1828); Essays toward a History of Painting (1836); Little Arthur's History of England (1836); and the Scripture Herbal (1842).
Isle of Man, 2006, Lady Maria Calcott
