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Home > Bluestocking Members > Member Biographies > Hannah More

Hannah More


Courtesy of
Walter Scott (c. 1947)

Hannah More was born in 1745 in Stapleton, Gloucestershire to Mary and Jacob More. Her father, a schoolmaster, is credited with educating her, as well as her other four sisters. Hannah studied Latin, French, Spanish and Italian.

Hannah was one of the most influential and successful women of her time. She was a giving philanthropist who worked to assist in the advancement of women. Hannah was an educator of the poor and a Christian moralist who also supported abolition. At her death in 1833, Hannah left 30,000 lb. to charity and religious services.


While Hannah was engaged for many years, she never married. Her life was filled with pious activities, such as setting up a Sunday school with Hester Chapone and Sarah Trimmer to fight illiteracy among working class children. She was very religious and involved in the church, and spent a great deal of time educating underprivileged people in moral lifestyles.

As a writer, Hannah was one of the more productive authors of the Bluestockings and represented a bridge between the first and second generation. She began attending Bluestocking events in 1774 and was an inspirational author and successful member of the group.

Hannah’s association and writing group included James Beattie, Frances Boscawen, Elizabeth Carter, Hester Chapone, Edward Gibbon, Samuel Johnson, Benjamin Kennicott, John Langhorne, Robert Lowth, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sarah Trimmer, and Horace Walpole.

Her many publications include a variety of fiction and religious pieces. One of her most important works was "Bas Bleu: or, Conversation" (1786), which was a description of charm and social life of literary women. The work presents the goals and activities of the Bluestocking women, and is one of the most important Bluestocking publications in either generation of authors.

Another important publication was Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education (1799) which maintained that a strong education was necessary for women to equalize the gender gap. Hannah offered women a doctrine to live by that would make them rational, moral, companionable wives and mothers.