Best known work

• Legends and Lyrics, 1858

Genres

• Poetry

Nom de plume

Adelaide Anne Proctor, Mary Berwick

Social class

Middle class

Parental background

Her father was a poet.

At publication of best known work

• Age: 33
• Marital status: Unmarried
• Number of children: 0

Physical description

A concert-lecture given by William Slade in 1903 quotes from letters written by Barbara Leigh-Smith [Bodichon] who describes Procter as "a slender, lithe figure, delicate and always beautifully dressed" (reported in Hastings & St Leonards Observer, Feb 28 1903). In her biography of Procter, The Life and Work of Adelaide Procter: Poetry, Feminism, and Fathers, Gill Gregory notes that she had blonde hair and blue eyes.

Did you know?

Procter was one of Queen Victoria's favourite poets according to an article 'The Queen's Favourite Books' in The Evening Telegraph (Apr 29 1897). Many of Procter's poems were set to music, which helped to popularise her lyrics.

Additional information

A useful guide to available biographies of Proctor can be found.