Collective 18th-century biographies of literary women explained

During the eighteenth century, there were several attempts to describe a "women's literary tradition." This table compares six eighteenth-century collections of notable women: George Ballard's Memoirs of several ladies of Great Britain (1752), John Duncombe's The Feminead (1754), the Biographium Faemineum (Anon., 1766), Mary Scott's The Female Advocate (1775), Richard Polwhele's The Unsex'd Females (1798), and Mary Hay's Female Biography (1803).

Collective 18th-century biographies of literary women

As the focus of this chart is British literary figures, broadly defined, two of the texts have been treated selectively because of their wider range.[1] [2] Three of these texts are collective biographies,[3] while three of them are more pointed political interventions in contemporary debates about women's roles.[4] [5] [6] Three are poems and three are dictionaries, but they all list, and comment on, literary women and their accomplishments.

NB: In the columns, readers can find subjects' names or pseudonyms as presented in the text. A number in front of a name indicates the relative position of that name in the text. Users may reorder some elements of the table.

Subject Dates Ballard's Memoirs (1752) Duncombe's Feminead (1757) Biographium (1766)[7] Scott's Female advocate (1775)[8] Polwhele's Unsex'd females (1798) Hays's Female Biography (1803)[9]
Anon. 1773 (fl.) — — — "A lady"[10] — —
1485–1536 Queen Catherine — "Queen Catherine, Queen of Henry VIII" — — —
1676 (death) — — — — — Lady Mary Armyne
1557 (death) Mary Countess of Arundel — Countess of Arundel — — Mary, Countess of Arundel
1528–1592 Margaret Ascham — Margaret Ascham — — Margaret Ascham
1521–1546 Anne Askew, Alias Kyme — Anne Askew — — Anne Askew
1666–1731 Mary Astell — "Mary Astell, an Ingenius Writer" — — Mary Astell
1528–1610 Lady Bacon — "Lady Anna Bacon, Governess to Edward VI" 11. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Lady Bacon
Barbauld, Anna Laetitia[11] 1743–1825 — — — 43. Aiken 02. "veteran BARBAULD"/Miss Aiken —
1685–1755 — — — 23. "HIBERNIA'S other fav'rite name" (l. 195) — —
1523 – 1572 Mary Roper — "Mary Roper, [grand]Daughter of Thomas More" 07. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Mary Roper
1672–1697 Anne Baynard — Anne Bayard — — Ann Baynard
1734–1808 — — — — 18. BEAUCLERK —
1443–1509 Margaret Countess of Richmond and Derby — Margaret, Countess of Richmond and Derby — — Margaret Beaufort
1640–1689 — 06. Behn[12] Afra Behn — — Aphara Behn
1388 (birth) Juliana Barnes, Alias Berners — "Juliana Barnes, A Prioress" — — Juliana Berners, or Barnes
1681–1712 (fl.) Elizabeth Bland — — — — Elizabeth Bland
1669–1726 Catherine Bovey — Catherine Bovey — — Catherine Bovey
1612–1672 — — "Anne Broadstreet, A Poetess of New England" — — Anne Broadstreet
1724–1789 — 17. CÆLIA/Mrs. Brooke [13] — — — —
1661–1709 Elizabeth Burnet — Elizabeth Burnet — — Elizabeth Burnet
1752–1840 — — — — 16. BURNEY —
1753–1802 — — — — lady Burrell —
1644–1720 Elizabeth Bury — "Elizabeth Bury, Versed in all the Sciences" — — Elizabeth Bury
1717–1806 — 16. ELIZA/Miss Eliza C--- — — 11. CARTER —
1626–1663 Elizabeth Countess of Bridgwater — Countess of Bridwater — — —
1624-1674 Margaret Dutchess of Newcastle — Margaret, Dutchess of Newcastle 16. NEWCASTLE — Margaret Cavendish, duchess of Newcastle
1738–1790 — — — 39. "INDOLENCE" — —
1669–1723 — 05. Centlivre Susannah Centlivre — — Susannah Centrelivre
1687–1745 — — Mary Chandler 24. CHANDLER — Mary Chandler
1727–1801 — 21. DELIA[14] — Mrs. Chapone[15] 12. CHAPONE Mrs. Chapone
1616–1653 (fl.) Katherine Chidley — Katherine Chidleigh — — —
1656–1710 Lady Chudleigh — Lady Mary Chudleigh 21. CHUDLEIGH — Lady Mary Chudleigh
1508–1570 Margaret Clement — Margaret Clement — — Margaret Clement
1590–1676 Anne Countess of Pempbroke — Anne, Countess of Pembroke — — Anne Clifford, countess of Pembroke, Dorset and Montgomery
1570–1638 Elizabeth Countess of Lincoln — Elizabeth Lincoln — — Elizabeth, countess of Lincoln
1679–1749 — 03. COCKBURN Catherine Cockburn — — Catherine Cockburn
1526–1689 Lady Burleigh — Mildred Burleigh 13. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Lady Mildred Burleigh
1698–1761 — — — 27. "Thou who did'st pierce the shades of gothic night" (l. 235) — —
1750–1828 — — — — Margravine of Ansbach —
1780–1850 — — — — 09. EMMA CREWE —
1506–1564 Elizabeth Dancy — — 05. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Elizabeth Dancy
1590–1652 Lady Eleanor Davies — Lady Eleanor Davies — — Lady Eleanor Davies
1742–1795 — — — — Mrs. Dobson —
1728–1774 — — — — — Dorothea Dubois
1725–1812 — 20. EUGENIA — — — —
1683–1756 — — — — — Elizabeth Elstob
1568 (death) Lady Elizabeth Fane — Lady Elizabeth Fane — — Lady Elizabeth Fane
1710–1768 — — — 28. FIELDING — Sarah Fielding
1661–1720 Anne Countess of Winchelsea 02. WINCHELSEA Countess of Winchelsea — — Anne Finch, countess of Winchilsea
1540–1557 Lady Mary Howard — "Lady Mary Howard, Wife of Thomas Duke of Norfolk" — — —
1676–1697 Lady Gethin — Lady Grace Gethia — — Lady Grace Gethin
1724–1789 — — — 33. GREVILLE — —
1540–1568 — — — Lady Catherine Grey — —
1537–1554 Lady Jane Gray — Lady Jane Gray 02. "beauteous Dudley" (l. 37) lady Jane Gray Lady Jane Gray
1705-1732 Constantia Grierson — "Constantia Grierson, an Irish Lady" 22. CONSTANTIA — Constantia Grierson
1727–1793 — — — 31. "another SAPPHO with a purer mind" (l. 280)— —
1623–1699 Lady Halket — Anna Halket — — Lady Anna Halket
Harriet Eusebia HarcourtHarcourt, Harriet Eusebia[16] 1705–1745 — — Harriot Eusebia Harcourt — — Harriet Eusebia Harcourt
1682–1739 — — Lady Elizabeth Hastings — — Lady Elizabeth Hastings
1759–1843 — — — — 07. "flippant HAYS" —
1693–1756 — — — — — Elizabeth Haywood
1507 (birth) Cecilia Heron — "Cecilia Heron, Daughter of Sir Thomas More" 06. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Cecilia Heron
1627–1709 Susanna Hopton — Susanna Hopton — — Susanna Hopton
1537–1593 Jane Countess of Westmoreland — Jane, Countess of Westmoreland — — —
1570-1624 Esther Inglis — "Esther Inglis, famous for Fine Writing" — — Esther Inglis
1696–1764— 12. IRWIN — — — —
1735–1812 — — — — "a Jebb" —
1707–1778 — — — 25. JONES — —
1741–1807 — — — — 08. "classic KAUFFMAN" —
1373-1440 Margery Kempe — Margery Kempe — — —
1660–1685 Anne Killigrew — Anne Killigrew 17. "illustrious KILLIGREW" (l. 93)— Anne Killigrew
1530-1583 Katherine Killigrew — Katharine Killigrew 14. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Katherine Killigrew
1722–1746 — 15. Young LEAPOR — — — Mary Leapor
1580–1685 Elizabeth Legge — Elizabeth Legge — — Elizabeth Legge
1730–1804 — — — 30. LENOX — —
1510–1537 Elizabeth Lucar — Elizabeth Lucar — — Elizabeth Lucar
1537–1578 Lady Joanna Lumley — "Joanna Lumley, Wife of John Lord Lumley" — — Joanna, lady Lumley
1731–1791 — — — 35. MACAULAY "a Macaulay"[17] Catherine Macaulay Graham
1702–1781 — 14. CORNELIA — — — —
1663–1724 — 04. "modern Manley" — — — —
1160–1215 (fl.) — — — — — "Mary, an Anglo-Norman poetess"
1658–1708 Lady Masham — Lady Damaris Mashain — — Damaris, lady Masham
1698–1761 — — — 26. "ingenious MASTERS" (l. 223) — —
1677–1715 Honourable Mrs. Monk — "Mrs. Hon. Monk, Daughter of Lord Molesworth" 20. MIRANDA — Mrs. Monk
1718–1800 — — — 38. MONTAGU 10. MONTAGU —
1745–1833 — — — Miss More[18] 21. MORE —
1675–1712 Honourable Mrs. Dudleya North — "Hon. Mrs. Dudley North, a Daughter of Lord North and Grey" — — Honorable Mrs. Dudley North
1640–1731 Lady Norton — — — — Lady Frances Norton
1343–1443 Juliana, Anchoret of Norwich — Juliana, Anchoret of Norwich — — Juliana (anchoret of Norwich)
1623–1679 Lady Pakington — "Dorothy Pakington, Wife of Sir John Pakington" — — Dorothy, Lady Pakington
1512–1548 Queen Katherine Parr — "Catherine Parr, Queen of Henry VIII" 01. "Illustrious Parr" (l. 32)— —
1508-1589 Blanch Parry — "Blanch Parry, Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth" — — —
1729–1805 — 18. CLIO — — — —
1732–1759 — 19. FLAVIA — — — —
1720–1783 — — — 37. PENNINGTON — —
1631–1664 Katherine Philips 01. "[T]he chaste ORINDA" "Katherine Phillips, the Famous Orinda" 18. "our fair ORINDA" (l. 101) — Katherine Phillips
1709–1765 — 07. Philips — — — —
1709–1750 — 08. Pilkington "Mrs. Loetitia Pilkington of Ireland" Mrs. Pilkington — Laetitia Pilkington
1666–1709 — — — — — Mrs. Pix
1737–1782 — — — 42. "THOU" (l. 415)[19] — —
1764–1823 — — — — 17. RADCLIFFE —
1625–1678 — — — — — Mary, countess of Warwick
1730–1788 — — — 41. "THOU" (l. 407)[20] — —
1775–1818 — — — — "her (Mary Robinson's) beautiful daughter" —
1757–1800 — — — — 03. ROBINSON —
1505–1544 Margaret Roper — "Margaret Roper, Daughter of Sir Thomas More" 04. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Margaret Roper
1674–1737 — 10. ROWE Elizabeth Rowe — Mrs. Rowe Elizabeth Rowe
1558 (death) (brief mention) — — 15. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — —
1528–1609 Lady Russel — Lady Elizabeth Russel 12. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Lady Russel
1580–1627 — — — — — Lucy Haerin
1636–1723 — — — 19. RUSSELL — Lady Rachel Russel
1742–1809 — — — — 13. SEWARD —
1538–1588 Lady Anne Seymour — Anne Seymour 08. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Ladies Anne, Margaret, and Jane Seymour
1699 (birth) — 11. SOMERSET — — — —
1541–1561 Lady Jane Seymour — — 10. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Ladies Anne, Margaret, and Jane Seymour
1540 (birth) Lady Margaret Seymour — — 09. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) — Ladies Anne, Margaret, and Jane Seymour
1724–1766 — — — — — Frances Sheridan
1561–1621 Mary Countess of Pembroke — Mary Sydney Pembroke The Countess of Pembroke — Mary Sydney, countess of Pembroke
1749–1806 — — — — 04. "charming SMITH" —
1617–1684 — — — — — Dorothy, countess of Sunderland
1717–1778 — — — 32. "Theodosia" — —
1575–1615 Lady Arabella Seymour — Arabella Seymour — — Lady Arabella Seymour
1542–1587 Mary Queen of Scotland — Mary of Scotland — — Mary, queen of Scots
1721–1770 — — — 40. TALBOT — —
1675 – 1731 — — Corinna Thomas — — Mrs. Thomas
1740–1821 — — — — 14. "gay PIOZZI" —
1595 (death) Catherine Tisthem — "Catherine Tishen, a Great Linguist" — — Catherine Tishem
1694–1754 — — — 29. "charming TOLLETT" (l. 266) — Elizabeth Tollet
1533–1603 Queen Elizabeth — Queen Elizabeth 03. Eliza — Elizabeth, queen of England
1516–1558 Queen Mary — "Queen Mary, daughter of Henry VIII" — — —
1715–1788 — 09. Vane — — — —
1623–1690 Elizabeth Walker — Elizabeth Walker — — —
1581–1612 Elizabeth Jane Weston — Elizabeth Jane Weston — — Elizabeth Jane Weston
1659–1685 Anne Wharton — Anna Wharton — — Anne Wharton
1738–1825 — — — 34. "Daughter of SHENSTONE" (l. 305)[21] — —
1753–1784 — — — Phillis Wheateley[22] — —
1706–1783 — — — 36. ANNA — —
1759–1827 — — — — 05. HELEN —
1759–1797 — — — — 01. Wollstonecraft —
1697–1750 — 13. WRIGHT — — — —
1587–1653 — — Lady Mary Wroth — — —
1753–1806 — — — — 06. YEARSELEY —

Texts

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Anon. Biographium faemineum: the female worthies, or, Memoirs of the most illustrious ladies, of all ages and nations, who have been eminently distinguished for their magnanimity, learning, genius, virtue, piety, and other excellent endowments. 1766. S. Crowder. London.
  2. Book: Hays. Mary. Female Biography, or Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women of All Ages and Countries. 1803. R. Phillips. London.
  3. Book: Ballard. George. Memoirs of several ladies of Great Britain, who have been celebrated for their writings, or skill in the learned languages, arts and sciences. 1752. W. Jackson. Oxford. 2027/njp.32101071964751 . 26 June 2022.
  4. Book: Duncombe. John. The Feminead. Or, female genius. A poem. 1757. M. Cooper. London. 26 June 2022.
  5. Book: Scott. Mary. The Female Advocate; a poem occasioned by reading Mr. Duncombe's Feminead. 1775. Joseph Johnson. London. 2 March 2015.
  6. Book: Polwhele. Richard. The Unsex'd Females: a poem, addressed to the author of the Pursuits of Literature. 1798. Cadell and Davies. London. 26 June 2022.
  7. As this chart does not include all the subjects treated in the Biographium faemineum, the subjects are not numbered. The entries are arranged alphabetically in the original text.
  8. Within the main body of the poem, Scott also celebrates three men who support women writers: she names John Duncombe (l. 469) and Thomas Seward (l. 479), and refers to a third, William Steele IV, by the name "Philander" (l. 489).
  9. As this chart does not include all three hundred subjects treated in Female biography, the subjects are not numbered. The entries are arranged alphabetically in the original text. For the full list, see List of women in Female Biography.
  10. In the introduction, Scott mentions "poems by a lady" "lately published" by G. Robinson in Paternoster Row as one of four writers with whose work she became acquainted too late to include. Possibly she refers to this publication: Unknown, [Woman]. Original poems, translations, and imitations, From the French, &c. By a lady. 1773. The Women's Print History Project, 2019, title ID 5349. Accessed 2022-06-25. WPHP
  11. Represented in Portraits in the Characters of the Nine Muses in the Temple of Apollo by Richard Samuel, 1778.
  12. This writer is mentioned in order to provide a negative example.
  13. According to a footnote, the section about Brooke was written by an unnamed "Sister-Muse."
  14. Duncombe does not name this writer; he only employs a conventional pastoral pseudonym and offers hints.
  15. In the introduction, Scott mentions Hester Chapone as one of four writers with whose work she became acquainted too late to include.
  16. Harriet Eusebia Harcourt is listed in collective biographies into the 19th century, but no evidence of her existence has been discovered. See Thompson Cooper, Notes and Queries (7th series, VIII July 1889, p. 63; Internet Archive) and D'Monté, Rebecca, and Nicole Pohl, Female communities, 1600-1800: literary visions and cultural realities (Macmillan/St. Martin's Press, 2000; Internet Archive).
  17. Mentioned in a note or notes, not in the body of the text.
  18. In the introduction, Scott mentions Hannah More as one of four writers with whose work she became acquainted too late to include.
  19. Pye, Jael Henrietta. Poems. By a lady. The Women's Print History Project, 2019, title ID 4652. Accessed 2022-06-25. WPHP
  20. "Roberts, Rose." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2537. Accessed 2022-06-25. WPHP.
  21. Fullard, Joyce. "Notes on Mary Whateley and Mary Scott's The Female Advocate." The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 1987 81:1, 74-76. DOI
  22. In the introduction, Scott mentions Phillis Wheatley as one of four writers with whose work she became acquainted too late to include.

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