M. E. W. (Mary Elizabeth Wilson) Sherwood

Born in Keene, New Hampshire, in 1826, Mary Elizabeth Wilson Sherwood became known as an American author and social figure who wrote under forms of her name including M. E. W. Sherwood and Mrs. John Sherwood. She published widely across genres, including short stories, poetry, memoir, translations, and practical books on etiquette.

Sherwood was especially associated with books about manners and entertaining, which helped make her a recognizable name for readers interested in social customs. At the same time, she was far more than an etiquette writer: she also contributed to magazines and wrote works shaped by travel, memory, and everyday observation.

She died in New York City in 1903. Today, she is remembered both for her literary range and for the way her writing captures the tone, expectations, and ambitions of American society in her era.