Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Dorset, Catherine Ann
DORSET, CATHERINE ANN (1750?–1817?), poetess, was the younger daughter of Nicholas Turner, gentleman, of Stoke, near Guildford, and Bignor Park, Sussex. Her mother, Ann, daughter of William Towers, died shortly after her birth (1750?). The care of the child devolved upon an aunt. Her sister was Mrs. Charlotte Smith [q. v.] About 1770 she married Michael Dorset, captain in the army, probably son of Michael Dorset, M.A., incumbent successively of Rustington and Walberton, Sussex. In 1804 some poems by Mrs. Dorset appeared anonymously in her sister's ‘Conversations.’ About 1805 she was left a widow. In 1806 she sold the interest bequeathed to her by her father in Bignor Park. In 1807 her poem for children, ‘The Peacock “at Home,”’ was published, as ‘By a Lady,’ for No. 2 of Harris's ‘Cabinet Series,’ illustrated by Mulready (cf. Gent. Mag. 1807, ii. 946, 998, 1222). In the same year, also, and as a further number of Harris's ‘Cabinet Series,’ appeared ‘The Lion's Masquerade, by a Lady,’ probably by Mrs. Dorset. In 1809 was published her ‘Think before you speak, or The Three Wishes,’ from the French of Mme. de Beaumont. Mrs. Dorset published, unillustrated, also in 1809, revised versions of ‘The Peacock “at Home” and other Poems,’ with her name attached. The ‘Peacock’ was reprinted in 1849, illuminated by Mrs. Dorset's grandniece, Mrs. W. Warde; again in 1851; and by Mr. Charles Welsh (a careful facsimile of the original edition) in 1883.
In 1816 Mrs. Dorset was still alive. A son, an officer in the army, wrote some poems and military works.
[Dictionary of Living Authors; Welsh's Peacock ‘at Home’ preface; Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary, article ‘Charlotte Smith;’ Allen's History of Surrey and Sussex, ii. 156 note; Elwes's History of Western Sussex, 32 and note, 33; Dallaway's History of Western Sussex, 1832 ed., ii. 25, 70, 248, 249; Gent. Mag. lxxvi. pt. ii. 1073. lxxvii. pt. ii. 846, 998, 1222, lxxxv. pt. ii. 589.]