Sarah Scott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Scott
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Sarah Scott, 1744, by Edward Haytley (c. 1740–1764)
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| Born | 21 September 1720 |
| Died | 11 November 1795 |
Sarah Scott (born Robinson) (21 September 1720 – 3 November 1795) was an English writer, translator, and social reformer. She was also a member of the Bluestockings, a group of people who met to discuss ideas and help others. Her most famous book was A Description of Millenium Hall and the Country Adjacent. This was a story about a perfect community. She also wrote a follow-up book called The History of Sir George Ellison.
Contents
Sarah's Early Life
Sarah Scott was born in Yorkshire, England. She was the youngest of nine children. Her parents, Matthew Robinson and Elizabeth Drake, came from well-known families. Sarah spent a lot of time in Cambridge, England, with her grandmother. Her step-grandfather, Dr. Conyers Middleton, was a famous scholar at Cambridge University.
Most of Sarah's brothers had successful careers. Her older sister, Elizabeth Montagu, became a famous writer and social activist. Elizabeth was known for her literary skills and started the Bluestockings group. Sarah also joined this group. The sisters were very close when they were young. Elizabeth often thought Sarah was "better in some ways," especially with her interest in books and ideas.
Sarah and Elizabeth wrote many letters to each other. These letters talked about French and English books, history, writing, and politics. Sarah's letters showed she loved reading from a young age. She enjoyed the works of writers like Spenser, Sidney, Milton, Swift, and Voltaire.
In 1741, Sarah got smallpox. This disease often left scars on people. Scholars believe this experience affected Sarah's writing. It made her focus on helping others and writing instead of just social events. In her book Millenium Hall, she created a character who had smallpox marks. This character showed that inner goodness was more important than looks.
A year after Sarah's illness, her sister Elizabeth married a wealthy man named Edward Montagu. Sarah stayed home to care for her mother, who was very ill. After her mother passed away in 1746, Sarah visited Elizabeth. She then chose to stay and care for Lady Barbara Montagu, who was also ill. Sarah and Lady Barbara became very close friends. In 1748, they decided to live together and share their money.
A Short Marriage
In the late 1740s, Sarah planned to marry George Lewis Scott. He was a family friend and twelve years older than her. George did not have a job or much money. Sarah helped him get a job working for George, the Prince of Wales. This was before George became King George III.
Sarah and George Lewis Scott married on 15 June 1751. However, their marriage ended quickly. In April 1752, Sarah's family came to London to take her away from her husband's house. The exact reasons are not clear, but it was a difficult time. To avoid public problems, George Scott agreed to pay Sarah £100 a year.
After leaving her husband, Sarah lived with her father. He did not give her any money. He also stopped her sister Elizabeth and brother Matthew from helping her financially. Sarah and Lady Barbara Montagu then moved to Bath. They lived simply and worked to help poor people. They created a way for poor women and children to earn money. They also started programs to teach poor children reading, math, and sewing.
Sarah's Writing Career
Sarah wrote her first book, The History of Cornelia, in 1750. It was about a good and religious young woman. To help with money for her household and charity work, Sarah decided to become a professional writer and translator. In 1754, she translated a French book called Le Laideur aimable into English as An Agreeable Ugliness. Later that year, she wrote A Journey through every Stage of Life. This book was a series of stories told by a young servant girl.
After writing her first novels and translating a book, Sarah started writing educational materials. In the late 1750s, Sarah and Lady Barbara created a series of cards to teach history and geography to children. In 1761, when George III became king, Sarah wrote a history book about Gustav I of Sweden. This book, The History of Gustavus Ericson, King of Sweden, talked about the idea of a "patriot king." This was a ruler who put the country's good before their own. She followed this with The History of Mecklenburgh in 1762. She wrote it to interest people in George III's wife, Queen Charlotte.
Also in 1762, Sarah published her most successful novel, A Description of Millenium Hall and the Country Adjacent. This story describes a perfect community of women. They focused on art, education, Christian values, and helping others. They helped children, the poor, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Millenium Hall showed the ideas of the Bluestocking group. The Bluestockings were a social group who met for intellectual talks and charity work. Sarah's book also criticized the politics and society of the time. Millenium Hall was very popular and was printed four times by 1778. People became interested in it again in the late 1900s because of its ideas about women's roles.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1763, Lady Barbara received a yearly payment of £300. This helped Sarah and Lady Barbara with their money for a few years, and Sarah did not write much. But when Lady Barbara died in 1765, Sarah's sister encouraged her to write again. The History of Sir George Ellison was published in 1766. This book was a follow-up to Millenium Hall. It showed how the main character was inspired by Millennium Hall to do good deeds. He made changes on his farms and helped the poor in England. He hired older workers, started a fund to help prisoners, and paid for girls' education. This book also had ideas about "patriot kings."
The next year, Sarah tried to create a real Millennium Hall in Buckinghamshire. This was meant to be a shared home with a school and other charities for the poor. Sarah invited other writers, like Sarah Fielding, to live with her. Everyone put money into the project. Sarah's sister Elizabeth Montagu gave animals, land, and staff. The project started well, but they had money problems, illnesses, and arguments. Because of this, the real-life Millennium Hall eventually closed down.
Sarah also worked on some translations and educational writings that were never published. In 1772, she published The Life of Theodore Aggrippa d'Aubigne. This book was about a Protestant who fought against both mob rule and kings with absolute power. In the same year, Sarah published her last novel, The Test of Filial Duty. This book was written as a series of letters. It discussed a daughter's right to choose her own husband.
In 1775, Elizabeth's husband, Edward Montagu, died. Elizabeth then gave Sarah £200 a year. In 1778, Sarah's father died, which also gave her more money. She did not publish any more books after this. After a long illness, Sarah died on 11 November 1795 in Catton, Norwich. Sarah had asked for most of her letters to be destroyed after her death. By the 1800s, people had mostly forgotten about her. Her books were sometimes thought to be written by other authors. However, in recent years, people have become interested in Sarah Scott and her work again.
Sarah Scott's Major Books
All the books listed below were published without her name or using a male name.
- 1750 The History of Cornelia
- 1754 Agreeable Ugliness, or, The Triumph of the Graces; Exemplified in the Real Life and Fortunes of a Young Lady of Some Distinction, translated from Le Laideur aimable by Pierre Antoine, Marquis de La Place
- 1754 A Journey through every Stage of Life, Described in a Variety of Interesting Scenes, Drawn from Real Characters. By a Person of Quality
- 1761 The History of Gustavus Ericson, King of Sweden; With an Introductory History of Sweden, from the Middle of the Twelfth Century (used the name: Henry Augustus Raymond, Esq.)
- 1762 The History of Mecklenburgh, from the First Settlement of the Vandals in that Country, to the Present Time; including a Period of about Three Thousand Years
- 1762 A Description of Millenium Hall and the Country Adjacent, Together with the Characters of the Inhabitants and such Historical Anecdotes and Reflections as May Excite in the Reader Proper Sentiments of Humanity, and Lead the Mind to the Love of Virtue
- 1766 The History of Sir George Ellison
- 1772 The Life of Theodore Agrippa d'Aubigné, Containing a Succinct Account of the Most Remarkable Occurrences during the Civil Wars of France in the Reigns of Charles IX, Henry III, Henry IV, and in the Minority of Lewis XIII
- 1772 The Test of Filial Duty; In a Series of Letters between Miss Emilia Leonard, and Miss Charlotte Arlington: A Novel
