Charlotte Forman facts for kids
Charlotte Forman (1715–1787) was a journalist, translator, and activist. From 1756 to 1780, she wrote political essays and news from other countries for newspapers. She used false names, called pseudonyms, like "Probus" in the Gazetteer and The Public Ledger.
She was not well-known when she was alive. However, she has become more famous recently. This is because she was one of the few women at that time who wrote about politics and trade. Back then, people thought these topics were only for men. Because of sexism, most people thought Forman's essays were written by men.
Experts say her essays show great knowledge and good ideas.
Early Life
Charlotte Forman's father was Charles Forman, and her mother was Mary. Charlotte had five brothers and sisters.
Charles Forman worked for the English war office. In 1715, a group called the Jacobites tried to make James Francis Edward Stuart the king of England, Ireland, and Scotland. During this time, Forman's father was late in sending orders to an English general. Because of this, we don't know if Charlotte was born in England or France. However, she later wrote that she was "nursed in the palace of the Trianon" in France.
She lived in London for most of her life and was often poor. She was even in a debtors' prison for a short time in 1767.
Writing Career
Forman wrote many political essays for the Gazetteer and London Daily Advertiser between 1756 and 1760. She then continued writing for the Public Ledger in 1760. Both newspapers were for merchants, traders, and shopkeepers in London. They shared information about international trade, like shipping news and offers for wholesale and retail goods.
Forman's essays in the Gazetteer and the Public Ledger were all signed with the name Probus. She wrote them before and during the Seven Years' War. About 200 of her essays still exist today. They talk about news from other countries and general reports. She also looked into the interests of England, Prussia, France, Holland, Austria, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark.
She always supported England's efforts in the war. She kept telling readers that England could defeat France. She also defended Frederick the Great and William Pitt from people who criticized them. She argued against making peace too early, as she thought it would give France too much power.
Letters between Charlotte Forman and a writer and politician named John Wilkes show how hard it was for an independent woman in the 1700s to earn a living by writing. She described herself as a "literary day labourer," meaning she worked hard for daily pay through her writing.
It is not known if she ever published anything under her own name. Many works from that time were published without an author's name, and we cannot tell if she wrote them.
