Sarah Florry facts for kids

Sarah Florry (born 1744, died 1832) was a smart businesswoman from Birmingham, England. She started her own metal trading company when she was 25 years old. She ran her successful business for 40 years. Sarah also kept a diary, which helps historians learn about life in her time.

Early Life

Sarah Florry was born in 1744 in a place called County Meath. Her parents were Mary and John Florry. Her father was an ironmaster, which means he worked with iron. Sarah moved to Birmingham with her family when she was a child. She lived in the city for the rest of her life. She had three brothers and sisters, but sadly, they did not live to be adults.

Starting Her Business

Sarah's family had a business in Birmingham. But in 1769, they decided to close it. Her father moved away to start a new iron business. Sarah was 25 years old at this time. In England, a woman could legally start her own business at this age if she was not married. Sarah was not married, so she opened her own company that same year.

A Successful Businesswoman

Sarah's company bought metal and sold it to other businesses in Birmingham. This was a very profitable trade. At that time, Birmingham was becoming a major industrial city in Britain. It was unusual for a woman to work directly with the men in the metal trade. So, Sarah hired men to act as middlemen for her.

Partnership with William Walker

In 1773, Sarah formed a partnership with one of her employees. His name was William Walker, and he was a traveler for the company. Their business was known as Mssrs Florry & Walker. Some people were hesitant to do business with women. However, Sarah was well-established, so this was not a problem for her. She often borrowed large sums of money, like hundreds of pounds, for her business.

Retirement and Later Life

Sarah Florry became very wealthy from her business. In 1798, she was able to sell her share of the company to William Walker. She then lived a very comfortable life with the money she had earned. She said she was enjoying the "comforts of ease and affluence."

Sarah had planned to move in with the widow of Sir Charles Holte, 6th Baronet. However, both Lady Holte and Sarah's mother died in 1799. Instead, Sarah moved to Edgbaston, which was a very fashionable area.

Sarah Florry died at her home in Five Ways in Edgbaston in 1832. She left £4,000, mostly to her women friends.

Sarah Florry's Diary

Sarah Florry kept a diary throughout her life. This diary is very important to historians. It is considered a valuable source of information about life in her time. Many researchers have studied her diary to learn more about the past.