Elizabeth Missing Sewell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Missing Sewell
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Elizabeth Sewell
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| Born | 19 February 1815 Newport, Isle of Wight, England |
| Died | 17 August 1906 (aged 91) Bonchurch, Isle of Wight, England |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | English |
| Period | 19th century |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Relatives | Richard (brother) William (brother) Henry (brother) James (brother) |
Elizabeth Missing Sewell (born February 19, 1815 – died August 17, 1906) was an English author. She wrote many books about religion and education. These books were very popular in the 1800s. She also worked as a private tutor and created important ideas about how to teach.
Contents
About Elizabeth Sewell
Elizabeth Missing Sewell was born in Newport, Isle of Wight, England. This was on February 19, 1815. She was one of twelve children in her family. Her father, Thomas Sewell, was a lawyer.
Early Life and Family
Elizabeth went to school in Newport and then in Bath. When she was 15, she came home. She and her older sister, Ellen, began teaching their younger sisters. Elizabeth had several brothers who became well-known. Her brother Henry became the first leader of New Zealand. Her brother James became a warden at New College, Oxford. Another brother, Richard, was a law expert. William, another brother, was a clergyman and writer.
Around 1840, her brother William introduced her to important religious leaders. These included John Keble and John Henry Newman. They were part of a religious movement called the Oxford Movement. This movement aimed to bring back older traditions to the Church of England.
Becoming a Writer
Elizabeth's family faced money problems. Her father died in 1842, leaving debts. Elizabeth and her siblings decided to pay off these debts. She used money she earned from her books to help.
In 1840, she published her first stories. These were called Stories illustrative of the Lord's Prayer. Like her early works, these stories were published as if her brother William had edited them.
In 1844, Elizabeth published Amy Herbert. This was a story for girls that shared ideas from the Church of England. It became very popular in both England and America. She also wrote parts of Laneton Parsonage, a children's story about using the Church Catechism. In 1847, she wrote Margaret Perceval. In this book, she encouraged young people to stay with the Church of England. This was because some people were changing their church to the Catholic Church at the time.
In 1849, Elizabeth traveled to the Lake District. She visited the famous poet William Wordsworth. In 1852, she published The Experience of Life. This novel was based on her own observations. Many people consider it her most important book.
Her School and Teaching Ideas
Elizabeth Sewell took charge of her family's money matters. Her writing earnings were not enough. So, she and her sister Ellen decided to teach students at their home in Bonchurch. They saw their home as a "family home" rather than a strict school. They usually taught seven girls at a time. They continued this until 1891.
Elizabeth wrote down her teaching ideas in a book called Principles of Education (1865). She believed in wide reading and encouraged her students to be interested in current events. She did not focus only on tests. She often traveled abroad during holidays. In 1860, she spent five months in Italy and Germany. This trip led to her book Impressions of Rome, Florence, and Turin (1862).
Later Life and Legacy
In 1866, Elizabeth believed that girls from regular families needed better schooling. So, she started St Boniface School in Ventnor. This school became very successful. However, new high schools opened in 1872, which made things harder for St Boniface.
Elizabeth Sewell passed away on August 17, 1906, at her home in Bonchurch. She was buried in the churchyard there. A special prayer desk was placed in the church to remember her.
People said that Elizabeth Sewell had a quiet, clever sense of humor. This helped her connect with young people. Even though she had strong beliefs in the Church of England, people with different views respected her. She was also a very good letter writer.
Her Books
Besides the books mentioned, Elizabeth Sewell wrote seven more stories between 1847 and 1868. One of these, Ursula (1858), is very well-known. She also wrote many religious books, like Passing Thoughts on Religion (1860). Her schoolbooks were mostly about history. She wrote two volumes of Historical Selections (1868) with another novelist, Charlotte Mary Yonge. Elizabeth also wrote for The Monthly Packet, a magazine edited by Charlotte Yonge.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Elizabeth (1901). "Sewell, Elizabeth Missing". Dictionary of National Biography (supplement) 3. Ed. Sidney Lee. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 293–95.
- Elizabeth Missing Sewell, Eleanor L. Sewell, The Autobiography of Elizabeth M. Sewell (1907)
