Ann Murry facts for kids
Ann Murry (born in 1750, last known writing in 1818) was an English writer and poet. She wrote educational books for children. Her books taught about geography, grammar, good manners, math, religion, and history.
Ann Murry's Life
Ann Murry was born in London in 1750. Her parents were Isaac and Elizabeth Murry. Her father was a wine merchant. He made sure Ann received a good education. She was naturally talented and curious.
Ann worked mainly as a private tutor and teacher. She became very well-known. This was thanks to her book, Mentoria: or, The Young Ladies Instructor. It was first published in 1778.
In 1785, she opened a boarding school for young girls. This school was in Hampstead. Her two sisters helped her run it. Charles Dilly, a famous London bookseller, was also involved. Many of her books were printed for Dilly.
After running the school, Murry did more private tutoring. She taught the daughter of Sir William Pulteney, named Laura. She also taught the Princess Royal. Murry kept teaching and writing until the early 1800s. Her last known writing was in 1818. It was an introduction to An Abridgement of the History of France. We do not know when she passed away.
Her Writing Career
Ann Murry wrote six books during her career. Most of them were for her students. Her first and most famous book was Mentoria: or, the Young Ladies Instructor. It came out in 1778.
This book is written like a conversation. It's between a teacher, named Mentoria, and her students. Murry covered many topics in this book. These included history, grammar, religion, math, and proper behavior.
Before publishing Mentoria, Murry got approval from the Princess Royal. She also did this for Mentoria's second book in 1799. Murry also wrote poetry. She published her own poetry book in 1779. She also included her own poems in Mentoria. She added poems by other famous poets too. These included John Milton, James Thomson, and Alexander Pope.
Her books were quite popular in her time. Literary magazines often gave them good reviews. Many famous people bought her books. These included the Duchess of Bedford and David Garrick.
Murry's books showed her strong beliefs. This was especially true in Mentoria. She supported the American Rebellion. She disliked slavery. She encouraged young ladies to act virtuously. She also showed great religious devotion.
Full List of Works
- Mentoria: or, the Young Ladies Instructor, 1778
- Poems on Various Subjects, 1779.
- A Concise History of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, 1783. 2 vols.
- The Sequel to Mentoria; or, the Young Ladies Instructor, 1799.
- Mentorian Lectures on Sacred and Moral Subjects, 1809. 8 vols.
