Esther Vanhomrigh

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Esther Vanhomrigh (nicknamed "Vanessa") (1690-1723) was an English woman who was famously in love with Jonathan Swift. She was the daughter of a Dublin merchant of Dutch descent.

Swift had met her in 1708, and had served as a tutor. Vanhomrigh followed Swift to Ireland after her mother died. Twenty-two years younger than Swift, she was fictionalized as "Vanessa" in the poem Cadenus and Vanessa (1713). The name was created by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's last name and adding "Esse", the pet form of Esther.

In the poem, Swift wrote:

Each girl, when pleased with what is taught,

Will have the teacher in her thought.

Swift broke off the relationship with her in 1723. Vanhomrigh never recovered from his rejection. Swift's letters to her were published after her death. A ward in St Patrick's Hospital is named "Vanessa."