American Female Poets [an electronic edition]

Biographical Sketch.

MRS. MOWATT is a native of Bordeaux in France, where she spent the first six years of her life. She is the daughter of Mr. Samuel Gouverneur Ogden of New York, and was married at an early age to Mr. Mowatt, a lawyer of the same city. Two years after, she published anonymously a poetical romance in five cantos, founded on the history of the first king of Asturias. A satirical poem, displaying much talent and force, appeared soon after. She then returned to her native France, and spent several years there and in Germany. During her

stay on the continent, she wrote a tragedy called Gulzara, which was published in New York in 1841. In the winter of 1845 her best work, Fashion, a Comedy, was acted at the Park Theatre, New York; and was much praised at the time for the simplicity of its plot, and the spirited sarcasm which seasoned its colloquy. She is herself an actress of no ordinary skill; and distinguished herself some years ago by the "elocutionary readings" with which she entertained large and fashionable audiences in New York, Boston, and other cities.