Frances Boscawen

Frances Evelyn "Fanny" Boscawen (née Glanville; 23 July 1719 – 26 February 1805) was an English literary hostess, correspondent and member of the Blue Stockings Society.

[7] After Boscawen's death in 1761, Frances returned to her London house at 14 South Audley St, where she became an important hostess of Bluestocking meetings.

Her numerous guests included Elizabeth Montagu, Horace Walpole, Dr Johnson, Mrs Delany, Anna Letitia Barbauld, James Boswell, Joshua Reynolds - who had painted her husband's portrait - Frances Reynolds, Elizabeth Carter, and later Hannah More, who described her as "sage" (wise) in her 1782 poem The Bas Bleu, or, Conversation, published in 1784.

[2][12][13][14][10] Frances' influence over King George III was notable, persuading him to employ artist John Opie to paint a portrait of Mrs Delany which hung in the royal bedchamber in a frame designed by Horace Walpole.

[15] Opie's wife, Amelia, also associated with the fashionable Blue Stockings Society as did Frances' daughter, Elizabeth, Duchess of Beaufort (née Boscawen) (1747-1828).