Dorothy, Lady Pakington

Dorothy, Lady Pakington
painting by Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen
Born	Dorothy Coventry 1623 in or near London, England
Died	10 May 1679
Occupation	writer
Language	English
Nationality	English
Subject	religious works
Spouse	Sir John Pakington, 2nd Baronet
Relatives	Sir Thomas Coventry (father)

Dorothy, Lady Pakington (1623 – 10 May 1679) was an English friend and supporter of learned clergymen, and a writer of religious works. She was for many years reputed to be the author of The Whole Duty of Man. She enjoyed the esteem and friendship of the most eminent divines of her time. Dr. Henry Hammond resided at her home for several years.^[1]

Dorothy Coventry was born in or near London about the middle of the reign of James I.^[2] She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Coventry, the Lord Keeper,^[1] and his second wife, Elizabeth (1583–1653), daughter of John Aldersey of Spurstow, Cheshire, and widow of William Pitchford.

She married Sir John Pakington, 2nd Baronet (1621–1680), of Westwood, Worcestershire. The couple had at least three surviving children: one son and two daughters.^[3]

A fervent royalist, Dorothy Pakington wrote manuscript prayers, and shared in the circulation of religious and philosophical manuscripts in the group of clergymen around the king's chaplain, Henry Hammond. The extent of her reputation is shown by the fact that contemporaries believed her the author of The Whole Duty of Man. Although George Ballard defended this attribution, modern scholars instead follow two nineteenth-century writers — Richard Barham and C. E. Doble — who attributed the work to Hammond's friend Richard Allestree. She led a retired life, and devoted herself to learning, piety, and good works. She was the author of several religious books: The Gentleman’s Calling, The Lady’s Calling, The Government of the Tongue, The Christian’s Birthright, and The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety.^[1]

Pakington died 10 May 1679.^[1]

• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Craik, George Lillie (1847). The Pursuit of Knowledge Under Difficulties. Illustrated by Female Examples. Being a Continuation of the 'Pursuit of Knowledge Under Difficulties, Illustrated by Anecdotes.' (Public domain ed.). C. Cox.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Virtue and Company (1875). The Art Journal (Public domain ed.). Virtue and Company.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Williams (called Ysgafell.), Jane (1861). The Literary Women of England. Including a Biographical Epitome of All the Most Eminent to the Year 1700; and Sketches of the Poetesses to the Year 1850; with Extracts from Their Works, and Critical Remarks (Public domain ed.).

• Sara H. Mendelson, ‘Pakington , Dorothy, Lady Pakington (bap. 1623, d. 1679)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 4 March 2007. The first edition of this text is available at Wikisource: "Pakington, Dorothy" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
• Works by or about Dorothy, Lady Pakington at the Internet Archive