Who was Mary Wollstonecraft?
Mary Wollstonecraft, an 18th century British philosopher and writer, was born on 27 April 1759. She is especially well known for her feminist viewpoints and tracts. However, she did pen books and essays a wide variety of topics including travel narratives, treatises, history, and manners. She also wrote novels and a book for children. Without a doubt, her most famous text is A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, which was published in 1792. In this text, Wollstonecraft argues that women are not naturally inferior to men, but only appear so because of their inferior social status and the fact that they received less education than men. Wollstonecraft is known for both her texts and her lifestyle, which was very unconventional for a woman of her era. Only after having two affairs, one with Henry Fuseli and the other with Gilbert Imlay, did Wollstonecraft marry. With her husband, William Godwin, she had one daughter, Mary Shelley. Shelley is arguably more famous than her infamous mother f
Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-97) was one of the first great feminist writers. She wrote in various genres (history, novels, travel, even a children’s book) but is best known for her A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. The title clearly echoes that of Thomas Paine’s clarion call for social justice and liberty, Rights of Man. Her personal life was equally wide-ranging: she had two intense affairs, and attempted suicide more than once, before marrying the radical philosopher William Godwin. (Their daughter Mary later became Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.) Wollstonecraft died aged just 38, of septicaemia contracted as a result of childbirth, leaving behind several unfinished manuscripts. Thanks to the exposure of her personal life, she was not well-regarded after her death, but the emergence of the feminist movement saw her reputation in the 20th century elevated to that of major founding feminist philosopher.
Philosopher and Women’s Right’s Campaigner. Date and Place of Birth: 27th April 1759, London, England. Family Background: From family of six children, three girls and three boys. Granddaughter of a wealthy Irish manufacturer who worked in Spitalfields, London. Her father, John Edward Wollstonecraft, originally a handkerchief weaver, spent the fortune in an unsuccessful farm business and through drink and was prone to beat his wife Elizabeth Dixon. Education: Local day schools in Beverley, Yorkshire. Chronology/Biography of Mary Wollstonecraft: 1763: Moves to Epping with her family. 1765: At the death of her grandfather her father inherits some of his estate and the family again move on this time to Barking. 1768: Family moves on to Beverley in Yorkshire. 1774: Family moves to Hoxton in North London. 1776: Family moves to Laugharne in Wales. 1777: Family moves to Walworth in London. 1778: Mary gets her first employment as a lady’s companion to Mrs Dawson in Bath. Her family moves on aga
