Susan Carnegie facts for kids

Susan Carnegie (born Susan Scott; 7 August 1743 - 14 April 1821) was a Scottish writer and a generous helper of good causes. She is best known for helping to start the Montrose Asylum. This was the first public hospital in Scotland for people with mental health conditions.

Early Life and Education

Susan Carnegie was born in Edinburgh on 7 August 1743. Her father, David Scott, worked as the Treasurer for the Bank of Scotland. Susan was taught at home, which was common for girls from wealthy families back then.

She learned many subjects, including philosophy, which is about big ideas and how we think. She also became very good at French and Italian. Susan enjoyed drawing and writing poems. She was also interested in how money works and how society was organized.

Susan was inspired by a book called Emile, or On Education. This book made her think about how girls and boys were educated differently. She believed that women were just as smart as men. She often spoke about the unfair ways women were treated in society.

Helping Others: Charitable Work

Susan Carnegie had a big idea to help people with mental health problems. In March 1799, she convinced the local town council in Montrose to agree to her plan for a special hospital. She believed that people with mental illness needed kind, science-based care, not to be put in prisons.

Susan used money from her own family and her husband's family to fund the project. She also asked her friends and connections for donations. The hospital opened in 1781 and was called the Montrose Lunatic Asylum, Infirmary and Dispensary. It was the first public hospital of its kind in Scotland. It was also one of the very first in any English-speaking country.

The hospital received a special Royal Charter in 1810, which made it an official royal institution. It finally closed in 2011. Even after Susan's death, her ideas about caring for patients continued to guide the hospital.

Susan was always busy helping her community. After several people drowned locally, she worked to get support for safety measures. In 1808, she started the Montrose Female Friendly Society. This group helped women in need. She also helped the local church with its efforts to support the poor. In 1815, she even started a local savings bank to help people manage their money.

Her Writing

Susan Carnegie was a talented poet. She published several of her works using the pen name "Juliette North." She also wrote letters to another famous poet, James Beattie. For these letters, she used the name "Arethusa." One of her poems, Dunottar Castle, was published in the 1820s. A copy of this poem is kept at the University of Aberdeen.

Personal Life

On 17 March 1769, Susan married George Carnegie. He was 18 years older than her. Together, they had nine children: six sons and three daughters. Eight of their children lived to be adults. Sadly, three of her sons died while serving as soldiers during her lifetime. George Carnegie passed away in 1799.

Later Years and Legacy

Susan Carnegie died on 14 April 1821 in Charleton, Montrose. She was 77 years old. Her obituary, a notice published after her death, praised her kindness. It said she loved to help widows and orphans, feed the hungry, clothe those in need, and protect the weak.

To honor her important work, NHS Tayside named a new building after her. The Susan Carnegie Centre opened on 5 December 2011. A painting of Susan Carnegie is owned by NHS Tayside.