Susannah Dobson facts for kids

Susannah Dobson (born around 1742 – died September 29, 1795) was a talented translator from England. She was the daughter of John Dawson from London. Susannah Dobson was very interested in the famous 14th-century Italian writer and scholar, Petrarch. A scholar is someone who studies a lot and knows a great deal about a subject.

Early Life and Family

Susannah Dawson married Dr. Matthew Dobson in 1759. He was a doctor and a writer from Liverpool. Susannah wrote her book Life of Petrarch while living in Liverpool.

Dr. Dobson passed away in Bath, Somerset in 1784. They had three children: Susannah (born 1764), Dawson (born 1766), and Elisa (born around 1760 or 1761, died 1778). Some people believe Susannah Dawson was born in Toxteth, a place near Liverpool, in 1742.

Social Connections and Personality

Susannah Dobson was known for her strong personality. The writer Frances Burney mentioned her in 1780. Burney described Susannah as having a "strong masculine understanding," which meant she was very smart and logical.

Her husband, Dr. Dobson, became the doctor for a well-known woman named Mrs. Thrale. Even the famous writer Samuel Johnson spoke highly of Susannah. He called her a "Directress of rational conversation," meaning she was great at leading interesting and smart discussions.

Susannah Dobson died on September 30, 1795. She was buried at St Paul's, Covent Garden in London.

Susannah Dobson's Published Works

Susannah Dobson was a very active writer and translator. She helped bring important European works to English readers.

Translating Petrarch's Life

In 1775, Susannah Dobson published her most famous work. It was called Life of Petrarch. This book was based on a large French book by Jacques-François de Sade. Dobson made the long French original shorter and easier to read.

Her book explored the actions and feelings of people from a different time period. Other writers of her time, like Clara Reeve, praised her work. The Life of Petrarch was so popular that it was reprinted many times. By 1805, it had been printed six times! Susannah Dobson said in 1780 that the book earned her £400, which was a lot of money back then.

Other Important Translations

Susannah Dobson translated several other significant books. In 1779, she translated and shortened The Literary History of the Troubadours. This book was originally written by Sainte-Palaye. Troubadours were poets and musicians from the Middle Ages.

In 1784, she translated another book by the same author. It was called Memoirs of Ancient Chivalry. Chivalry refers to the code of conduct for knights in the Middle Ages.

Her final translation was in 1791. She translated Petrarch's De remediis utriusque fortunae. She gave it the English title Petrarch's View of Human Life.

Other Attributed Works

Some other books are also thought to have been written by Susannah Dobson. These include an anonymous book called Dialogue on Friendship and Society (1777). This book taught lessons about friendship.

Another work possibly by her is Historical Anecdotes of Heraldry and Chivalry. This was an original scholarly book published in Worcester in 1795. Heraldry is the study of coats of arms and family symbols.