Hannah Robertson (autobiographer) facts for kids

Hannah Robertson (born 1724, died around 1800) was a Scottish writer and teacher. She wrote about her own life and also created books that taught young ladies many useful skills.

Hannah Robertson's Life Story

Hannah Robertson wrote an autobiography, which is a book about her own life. In it, she said her father, named Swan, was a son of Charles II of England. Charles II was a king of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Hannah was one of six children her father had with his second wife. Her father died soon after she was born.

Her mother remarried and ran a business making linen cloth. When Hannah was six, her family moved to Glasgow. In 1736, they moved again to Perth. Hannah wrote about two difficult engagements before she had an unhappy marriage to a rich man. This man lost all his money in 1756. Hannah bravely paid off his debts by running a successful pub in Aberdeen. In 1771, her husband died in a storm. Her children also had many interesting experiences.

Hannah moved to several cities, including Edinburgh, York, London, Northampton, and finally Birmingham. It seems she settled in Birmingham. In these different places, she taught young ladies popular skills. These skills included filigree (delicate metalwork) and japanning (a type of varnishing).

Her Famous Book

Hannah Robertson's most important work was a book called The young ladies school of arts. This book was printed many times after it first came out in 1766. Each new edition was "corrected" and had "large additions." The book taught a wide range of practical skills. It included how to make gum-flowers, do filigree and japanning, and create shell-work. It also had recipes for jellies, preserves, cakes, and cordials. The book even gave directions for raising canary birds and silkworms!

Even though her book sold well, Hannah still faced poverty. She wrote about this in her autobiography, which she published later in her life. In the final parts of her book, she mentioned wanting to claim money based on her father's royal family connection. Not much is known about Hannah Robertson's last years.

Hannah Robertson's Works

Online Books

• The young ladies school of arts. Containing a great variety of practical receipts, in gum-flowers filligree ... clear starching, &c. ... By Mrs. Hannah Robertson. - The fourth edition, with large additions. 1777 (Etext, Internet Archive)