Mary Morris Knowles facts for kids

A self-portrait of Mary Morris Knowles, made with needlework around 1776. (Royal Collection)

Mary Morris Knowles (1733–1807) was an English Quaker writer and an important voice against slavery. She believed women should choose their own husbands and get a good education in science. Mary also helped create a new art style called needle painting. She wasn't afraid to challenge famous people like Samuel Johnson and James Boswell. She strongly supported ending the slave trade and slavery. Mary published some of her early works using her maiden name, Morris.

Mary's Life Story

Growing Up and Learning

Mary was born in 1733 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. Her family were Quakers, a religious group known for their simple lifestyle and strong beliefs. Mary received a practical education at home. But she also learned many other subjects. She studied poetry, classic writings, and even scientific ideas of her time. She was good at art, writing, and knew about botany (plants). She could also speak French.

Mary made friends outside of the Quaker community. As a teenager, she became close friends with Anna Seward. Anna's father, a reverend, also believed in educating girls. Mary also befriended Sampson Lloyd II, whose family later founded Lloyds Bank. Mary even helped design some gardens at the Lloyd family home.

Standing Up for Herself

Mary didn't always follow what her family or religious leaders expected. She insisted on choosing her own husband. This was a big deal for Quakers at the time, as suitable marriages were very important. This led to a disagreement with a Quaker leader named John Kendal.

Mary wrote about this in her "Memoirs of M.M., Spinster of the Parish." This writing showed how people had different ideas about women's education and freedom. In another short essay, "the Pudding Making Mortal," Mary argued that women should learn science. She believed that understanding science could help with everyday tasks, like cooking. She thought that smart thinking could be used in cooking, just like in other studies.

Marriage and New Beginnings

In 1767, at age 34, Mary Morris married Thomas Knowles. He was a Quaker doctor from Yorkshire. Mary was determined not to become "a poor passive machine" or just "a mere smiling Wife." Even though she had resisted marriage before, she was happy.

In 1768, Mary had a very difficult childbirth. Her son, Morris, lived for only one day. After she recovered, Mary and Thomas moved to Birmingham. This move brought her closer to her mother. Birmingham also offered more opportunities for their lives. Despite losing her younger sister and mother, Mary began to achieve great things in art.

Amazing Needlework Art

The 1770s were a time when British art was thriving. King George III and Queen Charlotte supported many artists. The Queen was especially interested in art made by women. She even helped start a needlework school in 1768.

During this time, skilled artists like Mary Knowles developed new forms of needlework. One new style was called 'needle painting'. This art form used wool stitches to make a picture look like a painting. It required incredible skill. Artists had to be very precise with their stitches to make the artwork look perfect.

In 1771, Queen Charlotte heard about Mary's amazing needlework. The Queen asked Mary to create a needle painting of a portrait of the King. The original painting was by Johann Zoffany. Mary carefully transferred the design onto fabric. She used a special frame, which only the most expert needle artists used. Mary used wool threads, making larger stitches for the background and tiny ones for the King's face and hands. She even stitched her initials and the date on the corner.

When Mary finished, the King and Queen were very pleased. They displayed the needle painting at Kew Palace for over 200 years. Queen Charlotte gave Mary 800 pounds as a gift. This money helped Thomas study medicine in Edinburgh and get his degree in Leyden. Mary also became friends with the King and Queen. This friendship gave her a chance to influence important people and ideas.

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  Johann Zoffany's portrait of King George III from 1771.

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  Mary Morris Knowles's needle painting of King George III from 1771.

Mary's fame grew quickly. The Birmingham Gazette shared news of her needle painting. A London printer also published her poems about Quaker beliefs. These works helped make her ideas known to the public.

Life After Royal Friendship

Being friends with the Queen meant Mary sometimes had to wait to meet her. In the winter of 1771-1772, Mary stayed in London. She spent time with Edward Dilly, a publisher who supported new ideas. Edward and his brother Charles often hosted writers. James Boswell, a famous writer, met Mary and wrote in his journal that her work was "invaluable." This showed that the Queen's gift was a personal gesture, not just a payment.

After Thomas finished his medical studies, he and Mary traveled in Europe. They then settled in London. Thomas became a successful doctor. Mary became a popular figure in London's lively cultural scene. In 1773, at age 40, Mary gave birth to a baby boy named George, honoring the King. Thomas joined the Medical Society of London and later became a top doctor. In London, Mary met many important people, including publishers and scholars. She became part of the exciting changes happening in London society.

Life in London

While Thomas advanced in his medical career, Mary continued to connect with important writers and thinkers. Her earlier writings were republished under her real name. She met many influential people at parties hosted by the Dilly brothers. They discussed new books, politics, and social news. It was at one of these gatherings that Mary met Samuel Johnson. Johnson was known for his strong opinions, sometimes criticizing Quakers. However, their first meeting seemed to go well.

Mary also guided two young Anglicans, Jasper Capper and his sister Mary Capper, who later became Quakers. Mary Capper went on to become a leading Quaker minister.

Around this time, Mary read a book about William Penn, a Quaker who founded Pennsylvania. This showed her support for the Americans during their revolution. This was a time when many English people were debating their loyalty.

Mary also became a friend and advisor to Jane Harry. Jane was the daughter of an English plantation owner and a Jamaican woman. Jane and her sister were sent to England for their education.

Women's Freedom and Jane Harry

Jane lived with guardians, the Spriggs, in London. Mary Knowles and Samuel Johnson often visited the Spriggs. Jane had recently lost her younger sister. She found comfort in the Bible and became close friends with Mary. Jane felt unsure about her Anglican faith. Mary told her that "good people of all denominations" exist. She encouraged Jane to follow her "inward light" to find truth.

Mary believed in Jane's freedom to choose her own religion. This showed Mary's faith in personal beliefs over strict religious rules. Jane decided she could no longer be Anglican. Her guardians then turned her away. Jane's father also refused to support her choice. So, Jane moved in with the Knowles family, who cared for her like parents.

Jane also knew Samuel Johnson. But when she met him again after leaving the Spriggs, Johnson refused to speak to her. Jane was very upset. She asked Mary to speak to Johnson for her at a dinner party in 1778. This led to Mary's famous discussion with Johnson. Johnson disagreed with Jane's choice. He worried that allowing Jane to choose her religion freely would challenge the established order.

There are different accounts of this discussion. Mary's version shows her politely defending Jane and her own religious beliefs. She successfully argued her points in a room full of men.

Jane continued to believe in equality. When her father died in 1780, her cousin, not she, inherited his wealth. Jane wanted to go to Jamaica to free her mother's slaves and teach them Christianity. However, war prevented her from traveling.

In 1782, Jane married Joseph Thresher, an English Quaker surgeon. She died two years later after giving birth to a son.

Fighting for Freedom and Loss

In 1783, the Knowles family moved to Lombard Street in London. Thomas was part of a group that asked the King to end the slave trade. He also joined a Quaker committee to fight against slavery in the West Indies and Africa.

On November 16, 1786, Thomas Knowles died at age 52 from a fever. Mary was 53, and their son George was 13. Thomas left Mary a wealthy widow. She inherited his medical practice and home.

Mary joined the London Abolition Committee. This group worked to end the slave trade. In 1787, they led a national campaign to get public support. In 1788, a friend asked Mary to write a poem for a tobacco box. Mary wrote:

Mary had defended women's freedom in her debate with Johnson. Now, she extended this idea to all people. Her arguments were logical and based on universal rights. She connected tobacco to slavery, encouraging people to think about how their purchases supported slavery.

Life as a Widow

After her husband's death, Mary found comfort in her strong faith and in letters from female friends. She was a wealthy widow and a loving mother to her son, George. As the person in charge of her husband's will, Mary kept all his wealth. This also increased her social standing. Although there were rumors, she never remarried.

The years after her husband's death are not well known. She may have moved to Basinghall Street. Letters from Anna Seward suggest Mary traveled in 1787. For a short time, Mary became interested in Animal Magnetism and the supernatural. This was a popular idea at the time about healing with hand movements.

Mary also dedicated herself to the anti-slavery work her husband had started. She believed that liberty was a birthright for everyone. She called for the freedom of all slaves, no matter their skin color.

In 1789, Mary and George returned to London. George started working in a business office. Mary moved to Lombard Street, where she continued to welcome relatives and friends into her home. In 1791, she published her own account of her discussion with Samuel Johnson in the Gentleman's Magazine. This was her response to Boswell's version of the conversation. Even though she had stepped back from social life, Mary bravely entered the public literary world to defend her friend and her religion.

Mary's Final Years

In January 1807, Mary became very ill. She passed away on February 3, 1807, at her home in Ely Place, at age 73. Many friends and family visited her during her illness, including her son George. During this time, she felt a lot of self-doubt and worry. She questioned the value of her achievements. She wondered if she had always followed Quaker beliefs correctly.

Despite her doubts, Mary still hoped for salvation. Her fame, wealth, and social status became burdens to her. She had achieved them by pushing the limits of her Quaker faith throughout her life. By sharing her fears, Mary became an example for others, even in death. After she died, friends remembered her as a literary lady, a patriot, an artist, and a devoted Quaker. Her life showed the complex connections between religion, gender, and new ideas in the 1700s. Mary was buried next to her husband Thomas in the Quaker cemetery at Bunhill Fields. Her son George joined them there after his death in 1820.

Mary Morris Knowles was a radical thinker. She defended freedom for women and for enslaved Africans. She also reminded people about the link between tobacco and slavery. Her writings show that many women, not just the very rich, found ways to share their political views. Mary's private writings were shared and saved. This shows how important women were in the fight against slavery. Understanding her story helps us see more about how gender, the fight against slavery, and political change are connected.

Mary's Letters and Writings

You can find Mary Morris Knowles’s letters and writings in these places:

• The Library of the Religious Society of Friends, London
• The British Library
• New York Historical Library, New York City