Collective 18th-century biographies of literary women
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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),[2] John Duncombe's The Feminead (1754),[3] the Biographium Faemineum (Anon., 1766),[4] Mary Scott's The Female Advocate (1775),[5] Richard Polwhele's The Unsex'd Females[6] (1798), and Mary Hay's Female Biography (1803).[7]
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.[4][7] Three of these texts are collective biographies,[2][4][7] while three of them are more pointed political interventions in contemporary debates about women's roles.[3][5][6] Three are poems[3][5][6] and three are dictionaries,[2][4][7] 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)[2] | Duncombe's Feminead (1757)[3] | Biographium (1766)[4][8] | Scott's Female advocate (1775)[5][9] | Polwhele's Unsex'd females (1798)[6] | Hays's Female Biography (1803)[7][10] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anon. | 1773 (fl.) | — | — | — | "A lady"[11] | — | — |
| Aragon, Catherine of | 1485–1536 | Queen Catherine | — | "Queen Catherine, Queen of Henry VIII" | — | — | — |
| Armine, Mary | 1676 (death) | — | — | — | — | — | Lady Mary Armyne |
| Arundell, Mary | 1557 (death) | Mary Countess of Arundel | — | Countess of Arundel | — | — | Mary, Countess of Arundel |
| Ascham, Margaret | 1528–1592 | Margaret Ascham | — | Margaret Ascham | — | — | Margaret Ascham |
| Askew, Anne | 1521–1546 | Anne Askew, Alias Kyme | — | Anne Askew | — | — | Anne Askew |
| Astell, Mary | 1666–1731 | Mary Astell | — | "Mary Astell, an Ingenius Writer" | — | — | Mary Astell |
| Bacon, Ann | 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[12] | 1743–1825 | — | — | — | 43. Aiken | 02. "veteran BARBAULD"/Miss Aiken[13] | — |
| Barber, Mary | 1685–1755 | — | — | — | 23. "HIBERNIA'S other fav'rite name" (l. 195) | — | — |
| Basset, Mary | 1523 – 1572 | Mary Roper | — | "Mary Roper, [grand]Daughter of Thomas More" | 07. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Mary Roper |
| Baynard, Ann | 1672–1697 | Anne Baynard | — | Anne Bayard | — | — | Ann Baynard |
| Beauclerk, Diana | 1734–1808 | — | — | — | — | 18. BEAUCLERK | — |
| Beaufort, Margaret | 1443–1509 | Margaret Countess of Richmond and Derby | — | Margaret, Countess of Richmond and Derby | — | — | Margaret Beaufort |
| Behn, Aphra | 1640–1689 | — | 06. Behn[13] | Afra Behn | — | — | Aphara Behn |
| Berners, Juliana | 1388 (birth) | Juliana Barnes, Alias Berners | — | "Juliana Barnes, A Prioress" | — | — | Juliana Berners, or Barnes |
| Bland, Elizabeth | 1681–1712 (fl.) | Elizabeth Bland | — | — | — | — | Elizabeth Bland |
| Boevey, Catherina | 1669–1726 | Catherine Bovey | — | Catherine Bovey | — | — | Catherine Bovey |
| Bradstreet, Anne | 1612–1672 | — | — | "Anne Broadstreet, A Poetess of New England" | — | — | Anne Broadstreet |
| Brooke, Frances | 1724–1789 | — | 17. CÆLIA/Mrs. Brooke [14] | — | — | — | — |
| Burnet, Elizabeth | 1661–1709 | Elizabeth Burnet | — | Elizabeth Burnet | — | — | Elizabeth Burnet |
| Burney, Frances | 1752–1840 | — | — | — | — | 16. BURNEY | — |
| Burrell, Sophia | 1753–1802 | — | — | — | — | lady Burrell[15] | — |
| Bury, Elizabeth | 1644–1720 | Elizabeth Bury | — | "Elizabeth Bury, Versed in all the Sciences" | — | — | Elizabeth Bury |
| Carter, Elizabeth[12] | 1717–1806 | — | 16. ELIZA/Miss Eliza C--- | — | — | 11. CARTER[13] | — |
| Cavendish, Elizabeth | 1626–1663 | Elizabeth Countess of Bridgwater | — | Countess of Bridwater | — | — | — |
| Cavendish, Margaret | 1624-1674 | Margaret Dutchess of Newcastle | — | Margaret, Dutchess of Newcastle | 16. NEWCASTLE | — | Margaret Cavendish, duchess of Newcastle |
| Celesia, Dorothea | 1738–1790 | — | — | — | 39. "INDOLENCE" | — | — |
| Centlivre, Susannah | 1669–1723 | — | 05. Centlivre[13] | Susannah Centlivre | — | — | Susannah Centrelivre |
| Chandler, Mary | 1687–1745 | — | — | Mary Chandler | 24. CHANDLER | — | Mary Chandler |
| Chapone, Hester | 1727–1801 | — | 21. DELIA[16] | — | Mrs. Chapone[17] | 12. CHAPONE | Mrs. Chapone |
| Chidley, Katherine | 1616–1653 (fl.) | Katherine Chidley | — | Katherine Chidleigh | — | — | — |
| Chudleigh, Mary | 1656–1710 | Lady Chudleigh | — | Lady Mary Chudleigh | 21. CHUDLEIGH | — | Lady Mary Chudleigh |
| Clement, Margaret | 1508–1570 | Margaret Clement | — | Margaret Clement | — | — | Margaret Clement |
| Clifford, Anne | 1590–1676 | Anne Countess of Pempbroke | — | Anne, Countess of Pembroke | — | — | Anne Clifford, countess of Pembroke, Dorset and Montgomery |
| Clinton, Elizabeth | 1570–1638 | Elizabeth Countess of Lincoln | — | Elizabeth Lincoln | — | — | Elizabeth, countess of Lincoln |
| Cockburn, Catharine Trotter | 1679–1749 | — | 03. COCKBURN | Catherine Cockburn | — | — | Catherine Cockburn |
| Cooke, Mildred | 1526–1689 | Lady Burleigh | — | Mildred Burleigh | 13. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Lady Mildred Burleigh |
| Cooper, Elizabeth | 1698–1761 | — | — | — | 27. "Thou who did'st pierce the shades of gothic night" (l. 235) | — | — |
| Craven, Elizabeth | 1750–1828 | — | — | — | — | Margravine of Ansbach[15] | — |
| Crewe, Emma | 1780–1850 | — | — | — | — | 09. EMMA CREWE[13] | — |
| Dauncey, Elizabeth | 1506–1564 | Elizabeth Dancy | — | — | 05. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Elizabeth Dancy |
| Davies, Eleanor | 1590–1652 | Lady Eleanor Davies | — | Lady Eleanor Davies | — | — | Lady Eleanor Davies |
| Dobson, Susannah | 1742–1795 | — | — | — | — | Mrs. Dobson[15] | — |
| Du Bois, Dorothea | 1728–1774 | — | — | — | — | — | Dorothea Dubois |
| Duncombe, Susanna | 1725–1812 | — | 20. EUGENIA[16] | — | — | — | — |
| Elstob, Elizabeth | 1683–1756 | — | — | — | — | — | Elizabeth Elstob |
| Fane, Elizabeth | 1568 (death) | Lady Elizabeth Fane | — | Lady Elizabeth Fane | — | — | Lady Elizabeth Fane |
| Fielding, Sarah | 1710–1768 | — | — | — | 28. FIELDING | — | Sarah Fielding |
| Finch, Anne | 1661–1720 | Anne Countess of Winchelsea | 02. WINCHELSEA | Countess of Winchelsea | — | — | Anne Finch, countess of Winchilsea |
| FitzAlan, Mary | 1540–1557 | Lady Mary Howard | — | "Lady Mary Howard, Wife of Thomas Duke of Norfolk" | — | — | — |
| Gethin, Grace | 1676–1697 | Lady Gethin | — | Lady Grace Gethia | — | — | Lady Grace Gethin |
| Greville, Frances | 1724–1789 | — | — | — | 33. GREVILLE | — | — |
| Grey, Katherine | 1540–1568 | — | — | — | Lady Catherine Grey[15] | — | — |
| Grey, Jane | 1537–1554 | Lady Jane Gray | — | Lady Jane Gray | 02. "beauteous Dudley" (l. 37) | lady Jane Gray[15] | Lady Jane Gray |
| Grierson, Constantia | 1705-1732 | Constantia Grierson | — | "Constantia Grierson, an Irish Lady" | 22. CONSTANTIA | — | Constantia Grierson |
| Griffith, Elizabeth[12] | 1727–1793 | — | — | — | 31. "another SAPPHO with a purer mind" (l. 280) | — | — |
| Halkett, Anne | 1623–1699 | Lady Halket | — | Anna Halket | — | — | Lady Anna Halket |
| Harcourt, Harriet Eusebia[18] | 1705–1745 | — | — | Harriot Eusebia Harcourt | — | — | Harriet Eusebia Harcourt |
| Hastings, Elizabeth | 1682–1739 | — | — | Lady Elizabeth Hastings | — | — | Lady Elizabeth Hastings |
| Hays, Mary | 1759–1843 | — | — | — | — | 07. "flippant HAYS"[13] | — |
| Haywood, Eliza | 1693–1756 | — | — | — | — | — | Elizabeth Haywood |
| Heron, Cecily | 1507 (birth) | Cecilia Heron | — | "Cecilia Heron, Daughter of Sir Thomas More" | 06. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Cecilia Heron |
| Hopton, Susanna | 1627–1709 | Susanna Hopton | — | Susanna Hopton | — | — | Susanna Hopton |
| Howard, Jane | 1537–1593 | Jane Countess of Westmoreland | — | Jane, Countess of Westmoreland | — | — | — |
| Inglis, Esther | 1570-1624 | Esther Inglis | — | "Esther Inglis, famous for Fine Writing" | — | — | Esther Inglis |
| Ingram, Anne | 1696–1764 | — | 12. IRWIN | — | — | — | — |
| Jebb, Ann | 1735–1812 | — | — | — | — | "a Jebb"[13][15] | — |
| Jones, Mary | 1707–1778 | — | — | — | 25. JONES | — | — |
| Kauffman, Angelica[12] | 1741–1807 | — | — | — | — | 08. "classic KAUFFMAN"[13] | — |
| Kempe, Margery | 1373-1440 | Margery Kempe | — | Margery Kempe | — | — | — |
| Killigrew, Anne | 1660–1685 | Anne Killigrew | — | Anne Killigrew | 17. "illustrious KILLIGREW" (l. 93) | — | Anne Killigrew |
| Killigrew, Catherine | 1530-1583 | Katherine Killigrew | — | Katharine Killigrew | 14. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Katherine Killigrew |
| Leapor, Mary | 1722–1746 | — | 15. Young LEAPOR | — | — | — | Mary Leapor |
| Legge, Elizabeth | 1580–1685 | Elizabeth Legge | — | Elizabeth Legge | — | — | Elizabeth Legge |
| Lennox, Charlotte[12] | 1730–1804 | — | — | — | 30. LENOX | — | — |
| Lucar, Elizabeth | 1510–1537 | Elizabeth Lucar | — | Elizabeth Lucar | — | — | Elizabeth Lucar |
| Lumley, Jane | 1537–1578 | Lady Joanna Lumley | — | "Joanna Lumley, Wife of John Lord Lumley" | — | — | Joanna, lady Lumley |
| Macaulay, Catharine[12] | 1731–1791 | — | — | — | 35. MACAULAY | "a Macaulay"[13][15] | Catherine Macaulay Graham |
| Madan, Judith | 1702–1781 | — | 14. CORNELIA[16] | — | — | — | — |
| Manley, Delarivier | 1663–1724 | — | 04. "modern Manley"[13] | — | — | — | — |
| Marie de France | 1160–1215 (fl.) | — | — | — | — | — | "Mary, an Anglo-Norman poetess" |
| Masham, Damaris Cudworth | 1658–1708 | Lady Masham | — | Lady Damaris Mashain | — | — | Damaris, lady Masham |
| Masters, Mary | 1698–1761 | — | — | — | 26. "ingenious MASTERS" (l. 223) | — | — |
| Monck, Mary | 1677–1715 | Honourable Mrs. Monk | — | "Mrs. Hon. Monk, Daughter of Lord Molesworth" | 20. MIRANDA | — | Mrs. Monk |
| Montagu, Elizabeth[12] | 1718–1800 | — | — | — | 38. MONTAGU | 10. MONTAGU | — |
| More, Hannah[12] | 1745–1833 | — | — | — | Miss More[19] | 21. MORE | — |
| North, Dudleya | 1675–1712 | Honourable Mrs. Dudleya North | — | "Hon. Mrs. Dudley North, a Daughter of Lord North and Grey" | — | — | Honorable Mrs. Dudley North |
| Norton, Frances | 1640–1731 | Lady Norton | — | — | — | — | Lady Frances Norton |
| Norwich, Julian of | 1343–1443 | Juliana, Anchoret of Norwich | — | Juliana, Anchoret of Norwich | — | — | Juliana (anchoret of Norwich) |
| Pakington, Dorothy | 1623–1679 | Lady Pakington | — | "Dorothy Pakington, Wife of Sir John Pakington" | — | — | Dorothy, Lady Pakington |
| Parr, Catherine | 1512–1548 | Queen Katherine Parr | — | "Catherine Parr, Queen of Henry VIII" | 01. "Illustrious Parr" (l. 32) | — | — |
| Parry, Blanche | 1508-1589 | Blanch Parry | — | "Blanch Parry, Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth" | — | — | — |
| Peckard, Martha | 1729–1805 | — | 18. CLIO[16] | — | — | — | — |
| Pennington, Elizabeth | 1732–1759 | — | 19. FLAVIA[16] | — | — | — | — |
| Pennington, Sarah | 1720–1783 | — | — | — | 37. PENNINGTON | — | — |
| Philips, Katherine | 1631–1664 | Katherine Philips | 01. "[T]he chaste ORINDA" | "Katherine Phillips, the Famous Orinda" | 18. "our fair ORINDA" (l. 101) | — | Katherine Phillips |
| Phillips, Teresia Constantia | 1709–1765 | — | 07. Philips[13] | — | — | — | — |
| Pilkington, Laetitia | 1709–1750 | — | 08. Pilkington[13] | "Mrs. Loetitia Pilkington of Ireland" | Mrs. Pilkington[15] | — | Laetitia Pilkington |
| Pix, Mary | 1666–1709 | — | — | — | — | — | Mrs. Pix |
| Pye, Jael | 1737–1782 | — | — | — | 42. "THOU" (l. 415)[20] | — | — |
| Radcliffe, Ann | 1764–1823 | — | — | — | — | 17. RADCLIFFE | — |
| Rich, Mary | 1625–1678 | — | — | — | — | — | Mary, countess of Warwick |
| Roberts, Rose | 1730–1788 | — | — | — | 41. "THOU" (l. 407)[21] | — | — |
| Robinson, Maria Elizabeth | 1775–1818 | — | — | — | — | "her (Mary Robinson's) beautiful daughter"[15] | — |
| Robinson, Mary | 1757–1800 | — | — | — | — | 03. ROBINSON[13] | — |
| Roper, Margaret | 1505–1544 | Margaret Roper | — | "Margaret Roper, Daughter of Sir Thomas More" | 04. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Margaret Roper |
| Rowe, Elizabeth Singer | 1674–1737 | — | 10. ROWE | Elizabeth Rowe | — | Mrs. Rowe[15] | Elizabeth Rowe |
| Rowlett, Margaret | 1558 (death) | (brief mention) | — | — | 15. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | — |
| Russell, Elizabeth | 1528–1609 | Lady Russel | — | Lady Elizabeth Russel | 12. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Lady Russel |
| Russell, Lucy | 1580–1627 | — | — | — | — | — | Lucy Haerin |
| Russell, Rachel | 1636–1723 | — | — | — | 19. RUSSELL | — | Lady Rachel Russel |
| Seward, Anna | 1742–1809 | — | — | — | — | 13. SEWARD | — |
| Seymour, Anne | 1538–1588 | Lady Anne Seymour | — | Anne Seymour | 08. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Ladies Anne, Margaret, and Jane Seymour |
| Seymour, Frances | 1699 (birth) | — | 11. SOMERSET | — | — | — | — |
| Seymour, Jane | 1541–1561 | Lady Jane Seymour | — | — | 10. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Ladies Anne, Margaret, and Jane Seymour |
| Seymour, Margaret | 1540 (birth) | Lady Margaret Seymour | — | — | 09. "Mores, Seymours, Cokes, a bright assemblage" (l. 83) | — | Ladies Anne, Margaret, and Jane Seymour |
| Sheridan, Frances | 1724–1766 | — | — | — | — | — | Frances Sheridan |
| Sidney, Mary | 1561–1621 | Mary Countess of Pembroke | — | Mary Sydney Pembroke | The Countess of Pembroke[15] | — | Mary Sydney, countess of Pembroke |
| Smith, Charlotte Turner | 1749–1806 | — | — | — | — | 04. "charming SMITH"[13] | — |
| Spencer, Dorothy | 1617–1684 | — | — | — | — | — | Dorothy, countess of Sunderland |
| Steele, Anne | 1717–1778 | — | — | — | 32. "Theodosia" | — | — |
| Stuart, Arabella | 1575–1615 | Lady Arabella Seymour | — | Arabella Seymour | — | — | Lady Arabella Seymour |
| Stuart, Mary | 1542–1587 | Mary Queen of Scotland | — | Mary of Scotland | — | — | Mary, queen of Scots |
| Talbot, Catherine | 1721–1770 | — | — | — | 40. TALBOT | — | — |
| Thomas, Elizabeth | 1675 – 1731 | — | — | Corinna Thomas | — | — | Mrs. Thomas |
| Piozzi, Hester Thrale | 1740–1821 | — | — | — | — | 14. "gay PIOZZI" | — |
| Tishem, Catherine | 1595 (death) | Catherine Tisthem | — | "Catherine Tishen, a Great Linguist" | — | — | Catherine Tishem |
| Fielding, Elizabeth | 1694–1754 | — | — | — | 29. "charming TOLLETT" (l. 266) | — | Elizabeth Tollet |
| Tudor, Elizabeth | 1533–1603 | Queen Elizabeth | — | Queen Elizabeth | 03. Eliza | — | Elizabeth, queen of England |
| Tudor, Mary | 1516–1558 | Queen Mary | — | "Queen Mary, daughter of Henry VIII" | — | — | — |
| Vane, Frances Anne | 1715–1788 | — | 09. Vane[13] | — | — | — | — |
| Walker, Elizabeth | 1623–1690 | Elizabeth Walker | — | Elizabeth Walker | — | — | — |
| Weston, Elizabeth Jane | 1581–1612 | Elizabeth Jane Weston | — | Elizabeth Jane Weston | — | — | Elizabeth Jane Weston |
| Wharton, Anne | 1659–1685 | Anne Wharton | — | Anna Wharton | — | — | Anne Wharton |
| Whateley, Mary | 1738–1825 | — | — | — | 34. "Daughter of SHENSTONE" (l. 305)[22] | — | — |
| Wheatley, Phillis | 1753–1784 | — | — | — | Phillis Wheateley[23] | — | — |
| Williams, Anna | 1706–1783 | — | — | — | 36. ANNA | — | — |
| Williams, Helen Maria Williams | 1759–1827 | — | — | — | — | 05. HELEN[13] | — |
| Wollstonecraft, Mary | 1759–1797 | — | — | — | — | 01. Wollstonecraft[13] | — |
| Wright, Mehetabel Wesley | 1697–1750 | — | 13. WRIGHT | — | — | — | — |
| Wroth, Mary | 1587–1653 | — | — | Lady Mary Wroth | — | — | — |
| Yearsley, Ann | 1753–1806 | — | — | — | — | 06. YEARSELEY[13] | — |
Title page of George Ballard's Memoirs of several ladies of Great Britain (Oxford, 1752)
Title page of John Duncombe's The Feminead 2nd edition (London, 1754; rpt. 1757)
Title page of Biographium Faemineum Vol. II (Anon., London, 1766)
Title page from Mary Scott's The Female Advocate (London, 1775)
Title page of Richard Polwhele's The Unsex'd Females (London 1798; rpt. New York, 1800)
Title page of Mary Hays's Female Biography or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women (London 1803; rpt. Philadelphia, 1807)
Texts
- Anon (1766). 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. London: S. Crowder.. Vol. II is available online at HathiTrust.
- Ballard, George (1752). Memoirs of several ladies of Great Britain, who have been celebrated for their writings, or skill in the learned languages, arts and sciences. Oxford: W. Jackson. hdl:2027/njp.32101071964751. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- Duncombe, John (1757). The Feminead. Or, female genius. A poem. London: M. Cooper. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- Hays, Mary (1803). Female Biography, or Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women of All Ages and Countries. London: R. Phillips.
- Polwhele, Richard (1798). The Unsex'd Females: a poem, addressed to the author of the Pursuits of Literature. London: Cadell and Davies. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- Scott, Mary (1775). The Female Advocate; a poem occasioned by reading Mr. Duncombe's Feminead. London: Joseph Johnson. Retrieved 2 March 2015.