Mary Shelley Biography

Mary Wollestonecraft Godwin Shelley was born on August 30, 1797 in London, England. Her father, William Godwin was a philosopher while her mother, Mary Wollestonecraft, was a strong feminist of her generation. They got married in 1797 to protect the rights of their upcoming child. (Frankenstein) However, a few weeks after on the 10th of September, her mother died from Placental Infection due to the complication in Mary’s labor from before. (Romantic Circles) Since Mary’s mother died early in her life, Mary never truly knew her mother. Her mother had an affair with Gerald Imlay. They had a daughter together, Fanny, who lived with them. William Godwin met Mary Jane Vial, also known as Clairmont, and married her on the 21st of December 1801. (A
Mary soon gave birth to a daughter, in February 1815, who was born prematurely and died in March of the same year. A second child, William was born soon after. (Frankenstein) In November 1816, Fanny committed suicide. A few weeks later, Percy’s first wife, Harriet committed suicide as well. (Frankenstein) On the 30th of December 1816, Mary and Percy got married in St. Mildred Church in London. Mary gave birth to Clara Everina. Both Clara and William soon after died. At the age of 21, she started to get sick and depressed due to her children’s deaths. Later, she gave birth to her son Percy on November 1819 which gave her some strength to live on. (Frankenstein) This would make Percy the only child of Mary to go on to adulthood. On the 8th of July, Mary lost her husband in a boating accident in the coast. (A Bibliography Sketch) Mary had lost so many people in her life. It was only her son, Percy, and her left which had led her in severe depression at a very young age. Percy graduated from Trinity College in 1841 and married in 1848. Mary lived with daughter-in-law and son until she died on the 1st of February 1851 in London at the age of 54. (A Bibliography