Maria Nugent

Nugent, Maria (Lady) née Skinner, 1771—1834

by Benjamin Colbert

Maria Skinner Nugent was probably born at Perth Amboy in New Jersey, daughter of Cortlandt Skinner (1727–99), advocate-general of New Jersey, and Elizabeth Skinner, née Kearny (1731–1810). Loyalists during the American War of Independence, the family returned to England at its conclusion.

In 1797, Maria Nugent married George Nugent (1757–1849), an army officer, and they removed to Jamaica in July 1801 when he was appointed lieutenant-governor and commander-in-chief there. Maria Nugent returned to England in June 1805 out of concern for the health of her son and daughter, both born in 1802, and her husband followed in February 1806. Now a Baronet, her husband was promoted to commander-in-chief of India in 1811 and she accompanied him there, this time leaving behind her children, including a six-weeks-old infant son, a wrench that weakened her health and spirits abroad. The family returned to England in 1815, settling in Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire, where Maria Nugent remained until her death on 24 October 1834. Her two journals of her time in Jamaica and India were printed for private circulation posthumously in 1839.

Sources:

Cohen, Ashley L., ed. Lady Nugent’s East India Journal. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. Print.

Raza, Rosemary Cargill. 'Nugent [née Skinner], Maria, Lady Nugent (1770/71–1834), diarist'. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 21 May 2009. Oxford University Press. Web. 1 Oct. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/47677

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