Eliza Kirkham Mathews facts for kids

Eliza Kirkham Mathews (born Eliza Kirkham Strong; 17 January 1772 – 17 January 1802) was a British writer. She wrote many novels and poems during her short life.

Who Was Eliza Kirkham Mathews?

Eliza Kirkham Mathews was a talented writer from Britain. She was known for her poetry and novels. She lived during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Her Early Life

Eliza Kirkham Strong was born on 17 January 1772. Her hometown was Exeter, in Devon, England. Her father was a doctor in Exeter.

Becoming a Writer

Eliza started writing at a young age. She published her first book of poems in 1796. It was simply called Poems. She used her maiden name, Eliza Kirkham Strong, for this book. This was before she got married in 1797.

Her Books and Poems

Eliza wrote many different types of books. She wrote several novels for adults. She also wrote books specifically for children. Besides books, she wrote many poems that were not collected in books.

In 1787, she published a collection of essays. It was called The Pharos: A Collection of Periodical Essays. Her last novel, What Has Been, came out in 1801. This book explored the difficulties women writers faced. It showed how hard it was for a woman to earn money from writing. After she passed away, another collection of her poems was published in 1802. This book also called Poems, included many sonnets and odes.

Her Family Life

In 1797, Eliza married Charles Mathews. He was a well-known English theatre manager. Charles was also a very funny actor. They were married for about five years.

Her Final Years

Eliza Kirkham Mathews passed away in 1802. She was in York, England, when she died. She was only 30 years old. Her death was caused by a serious illness called consumption.