Background
Born in Tongwynlais, Cardiff, the only daughter of Commander John Viney and his cousin Eleanor, she first married Wyndham Lewis, Member of Parliament (1780–1838).
Born in Tongwynlais, Cardiff, the only daughter of Commander John Viney and his cousin Eleanor, she first married Wyndham Lewis, Member of Parliament (1780–1838).
Staid Victorians were often scandalised by Mary"s uninhibited remarks but soon learned not to insult her within Disraeli"s hearing. Even Queen Victoria herself was said to be amused when Mary Anne commented, in response to a remark about some lady"s pale complexion, "I wish you could see my Dizzy in his bath!" Once, at a house party where Lord Hardinge, a great soldier of the day, was in the room next to the Disraelis, Mary Anne announced at breakfast that she had slept the night before between the greatest soldier (Hardinge) and the greatest orator (Disraeli) of their times: Lady Hardinge was definitely not amused. Disraeli had been unimpressed by Mary when he first met her, but he came to understand that she was shrewder than her outwardly silly manner and non-sequiturs had led him to believe, and she was a great help to him in editing the books he wrote.
She is buried with Disraeli in a vault in the Church of Street Michael and All Angels Church, Hughenden, in Hughenden, Buckinghamshire, close to the Disraeli family home, Hughenden Manor.
The house is now in the care of the National Trust and has been preserved in the state when it was occupied by the Disraelis, and is open to the public as a visitor attraction.