Mrs Papendiek’s Memoirs record events at court from 1761 – when the future Queen Charlotte came to England to marry King George – until 1792. The Papendieks knew many musicians, including John Christian Bach (son of Johann Sebastian), William Herschel (who became an astronomer) and Haydn. The memoirs also record meetings with artists of the day, such as Thomas Lawrence and Thomas Gainsborough. They are a unique resource, recording significant information about living conditions, dress, education and Anglo-German relations.Volume 1 spans 1765–1840.

Charlotte Papendiek (1765-1839) wrote this autobiography for her children. It contains a detailed account of 18th century Hanoverian court life and intrigue, with anecdotes and gossip. Her father was Frederick Albert of Saxe-Teschen who was attached to the court of Queen Charlotte in London. Papendiek writes about her childhood, receiving smallpox inoculations, her education and her marriage to Mr Papendiek, a court musician whom she married for financial security. Her friends and acquaintances included George III, Queen Charlotte, Dr Samuel Johnson, Mrs Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, Fanny Burney, Johan Christoph Bach (son of J. S. Bach), Sir Joshua Reynolds, Franz Joseph Haydn and Sarah Trimmer.

Queen Charlotte kept a diary in which she recorded her daily activities as well as those of George III and other members of the royal family. Only her volumes for 1789 and 1794 survive, in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle. Her 1789 diary shows how the king’s illness and recovery impacted upon their lives. Both diary volumes provide hitherto unpublished information about court life and the royal family. Volume 4 of the Memoirs of the Court of George III.

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.