Maria Linley was born on 10 October 1763^[1] and christened two months later on 10 December, at Bath.^[2] She was trained as a singer by her father Thomas Linley the elder^[2] (one of seven musical siblings born to him and his wife Mary Johnson). She performed in the Drury Lane oratorios and in concerts, possessing a voice similar to that of other family members.^[3] As she matured her behaviour changed, she became awkward and "eccentric", leading to arguments with her father, and she left home to stay with her older sister, Mary.^[3] Unhappy at having to sleep in a small attic room, she left her sister's house and moved in with a female friend with whom she shared a bed.^[4]

When she was twenty years old, in 1784, she went to live in the home of her grandparents in Bath but became very ill soon after her arrival.^[5] Maria died on 5 September 1784 from a "brain fever".^[6] Her burial place is in Walcot, Bath.^[7]

She was also sketched by the British artist Samuel Shelley as Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians.

Life

References