The story behind the Portland Catalogue

摘要

Margaret Cavendish Bentinck,Duchess of Portland (1715-1785),styled Lady Margaret Harley before 1734, Duchess of Portland from 1734 to her husband's death in 1761,and Dowager Duchess of Portland from 1761 until her own death in 1785. She grew up surrounded by books, paintings, sculptures, natural history objects, and famous authors and other notables. She was reportedly the richest woman in Great Britain and owned the most extensive natural history collection in the country. To care for her collection she employed the chaplain,botanist, and librarian, John Lightfoot,and the botanist and naturalist, Daniel Solander.