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Catherine Talbot
Catherine Talbot
Courtesy of
Walter Scott (c. 1947)
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Catherine
Talbot was born in 1721 in Berkshire
County, England to Mary and Edward Talbot.
Her father died before her birth, and the
rest of her family moved in with Catherine
Benson. Benson was the sister of a Bishop
who married Thomas Secker; the Talbots would
live with the Seckers until both died, leaving
the family a large inheritance.
Thomas is credited with educating
Catherine in scriptures, astronomy, languages,
literature, history, drawing, painting and music. |
Catherine was very involved
in social circles and a close friend of Elizabeth
Carter. Her association and writing circle
included Martin Benson, Joseph Butler, Samuel
Johnson, Elizabeth
Montagu, Samuel Richardson, and Lady Grey
and Philip Yorke.
Catherine never married and advocated
female celibacy. She believed in equality of the sexes
and worked towards developing social positions for women.
Through her life, she was modestly and variously employed,
but notably unhappy with her need to work odd jobs.
Catherine was reluctant to be known as
a writer, yet she worked to negotiate a female speaking
position to develop moral and social authority. She
chiefly wrote poetry, essays, allegories, dialogues,
pastorals and imitations. During her lifetime, Catherine
published little. Many of her writings were published
after her death in 1770, including Reflections on
Seven Days of the Week (1770) and Essays on
Various Subjects (1772).
Catherine died from cancer in the presence
of friend Elizabeth Carter.
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