Anne Hunter


(Anne Home)

1742 - 1821

Minor poet and socialite. Although most-likely born outside Scotland, her father was the surgeon Robert Boyne Home of Greenlaw (1713-86) and her brother was Sir Everard Home (1756 - 1832). She was probably educated in Edinburgh, but moved to London in 1760 where she was to spend the rest of her life. She married another surgeon, John Hunter (1728-93). She is perhaps best remember for writing lyrics for the music of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn, who she met when he visited London in the 1790s. She also wrote words for the popular tune The Flowers of the Forest which were published in 1764. She published a collection of her poems in 1802, with a second edition the following year.

Hunter died in London and lies buried in St. Marylebone Church. A collection of more than 200 of her poems was published in 2009, entitled The Life and Poems of Anne Hunter.


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