Catherine Maria Fanshawe (1765–1834) was an English poet whose work was praised by Walter Scott.

They lived at 15 Berkeley Square, London, and at Midhurst House, Richmond, Surrey, but also visited Italy due to their poor health.

[2] Fanshawe's best-known production is the famous "Riddle on the Letter H", beginning "'Twas whispered in heaven and 'twas muttered in hell," which has often been attributed to Byron.

[4] Her "Fragment in Imitation of Wordsworth" appears in the Oxford Book of Parodies (edited by John Gross).

[1] He also related that Catherine and her sisters were the first publishers of the Memoirs of Ann, Lady Fanshawe (1625–1680), which cover her life up to 1672 and were completed in 1676.