Did you know?

James Boswell's uncle John was a member of a sect known as the Glasites.

Biographies

James Boswell mentioned thousands of people in his extensive journals and other writings. Read about an ever increasing number of those people, and about their relationship with Boswell, in our biographies section.

Literature

In our literature section you can read about the numerous books published by Boswell in his own lifetime, and about more than 40 other books about or related to Boswell published since his death in 1795.

Elizabeth Diana Bosville - Lady Macdonald of Sleat

Elizabeth Diana Bosville

Born Jul 25, 1748
Died Oct 18, 1789 at Great George Street, London

Alias:

Lady Macdonald

Baroness Macdonald of Slate

Biography:

Daughter of Godfrey Bosville of Gunthwaite and Diana Wentworth. Sister of William Bosville. On May 3, 1768 she married Alexander Macdonald, who had succeeded to the title of 9th Baronet Macdonald of Slate, following the death of his elder brother in 1766.

Life with Boswell:

It is unclear when Boswell first met Elizabeth Bosville. He was introduced to some of her family, at least her brother William, in 1763. In a letter to William Temple dated May 17, 1766 he wrote that "Miss Bosville is a charming young lady. I got her to speak a good deal before I left London and found her extremely sensible. She never dances. That I should have insisited, for no man shall ever pull about my wife. She loves reading and walking, and does not tire of six months in the country. [...] I dined three or four times a week at her father's while I stayed in London." 1

He seriously considered marrying her for some time before, eventually, she married one of his acquaintances, Alexander Macdonald of Sleat.

Notes:

Note 1: Letter printed in Boswell in Search of a Wife, 1766-1769