Elinor James facts for kids

Elinor James (born Banckes, 1644 – 17 July 1719) was an English printer and a person who loved to share her strong opinions. She used her own printing press to talk about important issues throughout her life. When she was 17, she married Thomas James, who was also a printer in London, on October 27, 1662. They had four children together, and two of them lived to be adults.

Quick facts for kids Elinor James
Born	c. 1645
Died	1719
Occupation	Writer, printer

Sharing Her Views with Broadsheets

Elinor James was a very busy writer and printer. From the time her husband became a master printer until she died, she wrote, printed, and gave out over 90 broadsheets and pamphlets.

What Were Broadsheets?

Broadsheets were like early newspapers or flyers. They were single sheets of paper printed on one side. Elinor made sure her name was clearly shown on almost all of them. Many titles included her name, like Mrs. James's Advice. She created at least one of these every year for 35 years!

Petitions and Public Issues

Most of Elinor's broadsheets were like official requests, called petitions. She sent them to kings, members of Parliament (the Lords and Commons), and even the mayor of London. She also sent them to church leaders.

She spoke out strongly about big political events of her time. These included the Exclusion Crisis, which was about who would be the next king, and the Glorious Revolution, when a new king and queen came to power. Elinor was also very much against the Puritan religious group.

Speaking Up for Printers

Elinor also used her broadsheets to talk about issues in the printing business. She wrote about how the government controlled printing and taxed paper. In one broadsheet called "On Behalf of the Printers," she argued against making it easier for new printers to start. She believed it would cause job losses and financial problems for existing printers.

Defending Her Beliefs

In 1687, Elinor wrote Mrs. James's Vindication of the Church of England. This piece got a lot of attention. Some people made fun of her for it, saying she was too simple or talked too much. Even a famous writer named John Dryden criticized her.

But Elinor didn't back down. She continued to speak out against Puritan preachers. Sometimes, she even went to their church services and interrupted them! She responded to her critics with another broadsheet, Mrs. James's Defence of the Church of England, in a Short Answer to the Canting Address.

Elinor's Strong Opinions

Elinor James was a strong supporter of the Jacobite cause. This meant she believed that King James II and his family should be the rulers, not William III.

Facing Challenges for Her Views

Because of her strong beliefs, Elinor faced trouble. In 1689, she was arrested and put in Newgate Prison. She was also fined for writing and sharing a broadsheet that said William III was not the rightful king. But even after this, she did not stop expressing her opinions. By 1702, some people called her the "London City Godmother" because she was so well-known for her outspokenness.

Standing Up to Titus Oates

Elinor also spoke out against a man named Titus Oates. He was famous for claiming there was a plot against the king (the Popish Plot). Elinor accused him of not being a real religious leader and of pretending to be one. Oates responded by hitting her with his cane. He was found guilty of attacking her and had to pay a fine.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1710, Elinor James was in charge of her husband's will after he passed away. She donated 3,000 of his books to Sion College in London. She also gave them portraits of King Charles I and King II. Elinor James passed away in 1719 and was buried in London.

See also

• List of women printers and publishers before 1800