Esther Milnes Day facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esther Milnes Day
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Portrait of Mrs. Esther Day by James Millar (1735–1805)
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| Born | Esther Milnes 1752 Wakefield |
| Died | 1792 |
| Resting place | St Mary's Church, Wargrave, Berkshire |
| Occupation | author, philanthropist |
| Nationality | English |
| Notable work | Select miscellaneous productions (1805) |
| Spouse | Thomas Day |
| Relatives | Thomas Lowndes (nephew) |
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Esther Day (born Esther Milnes, 1752–1792) was a British author and a kind person who helped others. She lived in the 1700s and was known for her writings and her efforts to make the world a better place.
Contents
Who Was Esther Day?
Esther Milnes was born in 1752. She was the daughter of Elizabeth and Richard Milnes. Her family lived in Chesterfield, and she inherited money from them. Esther went to a special school for girls in London called "Mrs. Dennis's Female Boarding School."
Her Marriage to Thomas Day
In 1778, Esther Milnes married Thomas Day in Bath. Thomas Day was a very interesting person. He believed strongly in fairness and equality. He was against slavery and wanted clean air for everyone. He also wrote popular books for children.
Thomas Day had some unusual ideas about life and education. He was inspired by the French thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Before meeting Esther, Thomas tried to raise a young girl named Sabrina Sidney in a very specific way. He wanted to educate her to be his ideal partner, following Rousseau's ideas. This experiment did not work out as he had planned.
Despite this, Thomas continued to believe in a simple, natural way of living. When he married Esther, he wanted them to live a quiet life away from society. Esther had to give up some of her hobbies, like playing the harpsichord, and many of her social activities. However, Thomas made sure Esther kept control of her own money. This was unusual for the time and showed he respected her independence.
A Simple Life and Helping Others
In 1779, Esther and Thomas moved to a small home in Essex. Later, in 1783, they moved to a larger estate in Surrey called Anningsley. This move was part of their plan to help others. They wanted to improve the lives of the people who worked on their land. They focused on making their workers' lives better, showing their kind and generous spirit.
Esther Day did not have any children of her own. Her nephew, Thomas Lowndes, was like a son to them. He was treated as their heir. Sadly, Thomas Day died in a horse riding accident in 1789. Esther was very sad after his death and passed away less than three years later, in 1792.
Her Legacy
After Esther and Thomas died, their nephew Thomas Lowndes put together some of their writings. He published a book in 1805 called Select miscellaneous productions, of Mrs. Day, and Thomas Day. This book included some of Thomas Day's unpublished works and some of Esther's early poems.
Thomas Lowndes said that Esther's poems were written when she was between eleven and fifteen years old. People who have read her work from that age describe it as "earnest, remarkable work." It's amazing that she wrote such thoughtful pieces when she was so young!
Her Writings
- Day, Esther Milnes, Thomas Day, and Thomas Lowndes. Select miscellaneous productions, of Mrs. Day, and Thomas Day, esq., in verse and prose: also, some detached pieces of poetry. London: Cadell and Davies, 1805 (You can find this book online)
See Also
- Thomas Day (writer)
- Sabrina Sidney
