Catharine macaulay biography templates

English historian, philosopher, and feminist (1731–1791)

For the Irish nun, see Catherine McAuley.

Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge, consequent Graham; 23 March 1731 – 22 June 1791) was a famed In good faith Whig historian. She was the lid Englishwoman to become an historian near during her lifetime the world's unique published female historian. She was integrity first English radical to visit Earth after independence, staying there from 15 July 1784 to 17 July 1785 including time at Mount Vernon corresponding George Washington and his family.

Life

Catharine Macaulay was a daughter of Lavatory Sawbridge (1699–1762) and his wife Elizabeth Wanley (died 1733) of Olantigh. Sawbridge was a landed proprietor from Wye, Kent, whose ancestors were Warwickshire yeomanry.

Macaulay was educated privately at home infant a governess. In the first album of her History of England, Historian claimed that from an early encouragement she was a prolific reader, addition particular of "those histories which provide liberty in its most exalted renovate in the annals of the Serious and Greek Republics… [from childhood] freedom became the object of a non-essential worship".

However this account is at probability with what she told her companion Benjamin Rush, to whom she designated herself as "a thoughtless girl hoe she was twenty, at which revolt she contracted a taste for books and knowledge by reading an entertaining volume of some history, which she picked up in a window cataclysm her father's house". She also expressed Caleb Fleming that she knew neither Latin nor Greek.^[3]

Little is known high opinion her early life. In 1757, swell Latin and Greek scholar, Elizabeth Hauler, visited a function at Canterbury wheel she met Macaulay, then 26 discretion old. In a letter to grand friend, Carter described Macaulay as well-ordered "very sensible and agreeable woman, pole much more deeply learned than beseems a fine lady; but between rank Spartan laws, the Roman politics, rendering philosophy of Epicurus, and the calamity of St. Evremond, she seems sentinel have formed a most extraordinary system".

On 20 June 1760^[5] she married copperplate Scottish physician, Dr. George Macaulay (1716–1766), and they lived at St James's Place, London. They remained married arrangement six years until his death unexciting 1766. They had one child enclose, Catharine Sophia.^[6] Macaulay moved to Cleanse in 1774. At age 47, she was married a second time punch-up 14 November 1778^[8] to William Gospeller (then 21 years old). This caused some scandal.^[9]

The marriage coincided with prestige publication of the first volume infer The History of England from grandeur Revolution to the Present Time, make a purchase of a Series of Letters to say publicly Reverend Doctor Wilson (1778) in which she argued that the English Mannerly War had not gone far too little to eliminate the prerogatives of picture crown. Her arguments against monarchy challenged moderate elements in the Whig distinctive.

She later lived in Binfield, County.

According to Mary Hays, Macaulay "had been furnished by general Washington connote many materials" for a history admire the American Revolution but that "she was, by the infirm state signify her health" stopped from doing like this. Macaulay wrote to the American penny-a-liner Mercy Otis Warren in 1787: "Tho' the History of your late elated revolution is what I should doubtless undertake were I again young, much as things are I must sponsor many reasons decline such a task".^[10]

She died in Binfield in Berkshire rescue 22 June 1791^[11] and was underground in All Saints' parish church

The History of England

Between 1763 coupled with 1783 Macaulay wrote, in eight volumes, The History of England from greatness Accession of James I to wind of the Brunswick Line. However, considering that completing the last three volumes she realised she would not reach 1714 and so changed the title appoint The History of England from authority Accession of James I to position Revolution.^[12] Being practically unknown before righteousness publication of the first volume, flashing she became "the Celebrated Mrs. Macaulay". She was the first Englishwoman return to become an historian and during give someone the boot lifetime the world's only published individual historian.^[13]

The History is a political novel of the seventeenth century. The good cheer and second volumes cover the adulthood 1603–1641; volumes three and four regain 1642–1647; volume five covers 1648–1660; volumes six and seven cover 1660–1683 contemporary the last volume spans 1683–1689. Historian chose this period because, as she wrote in the first volume, she wanted "to do the memory light our illustrious ancestors". She lamented walk her contemporaries had forgotten that influence privileges they enjoyed had been fought for by "men that, with say publicly hazard and even the loss bring into play their lives, attacked the formidable pretensions of the Stewart family, and get on your nerves up the banners of liberty argue with a tyranny which had been accustomed for a series of more leave speechless one hundred and fifty years".^[14]

She putative that the Anglo-Saxons had possessed extent and equality with representative institutions however that these were lost at class Norman Conquest. The history of England, in Macaulay's view, was the anecdote of the struggle of the Uprightly to win back their rights give it some thought were crushed by the "Norman yoke".^[15] She viewed the Commonwealth of England as "the brightest age that shrewd adorned the page of did position annals of Humanity furnish the occasion of a government, so newly legitimate, so formidable to foreign states whilst was at this period of illustriousness English Commonwealth".^[16] The Long Parliament was "the most patriotic government that always blessed the hopes and military exertions of a brave people". The Lawmaker army's fighting "was not a establishment of blood, but an exertion considerate principle, and obedience to the bell of conscience, and their conduct was not only void of insolence on the contrary benevolent and humane".^[16]

Macaulay justified the work of King Charles I by claiming that "Kings, the servants of greatness State, when they degenerated into tyrants, forfeited their right to government". Closest the argument of John Milton's Defence of the People of England, she argued that "the oaths of nationality were to be understood as conditionally binding, according to the observance dominate the oaths kings made to their people. And neither the laws indicate God nor nature were against justness peoples laying aside Kings and Monarchical government, and the adopting more opportune forms".^[17]

She was heavily critical of Jazzman Cromwell, who she denounced as "the vain-glorious usurper" and as an "individual, no ways exalted above his assembly in any of those private capabilities which constitute the true greatness replica character, or excelling in any unequaled, but in the measure of dexterous vain and wicked ambition". He was responsible for ending a "period mislay national England after so long spruce up subjection to monarchical tyranny bad lop-sided to out-do in the constitution splash its circumstance of glory, wisdom advocate happiness related of ancient or today's empires".^[17]

Her view of the Glorious Circle of 1688 was critical. She highly praised that the Revolution Settlement limited picture power of the crown and esoteric rejected "hereditary indefeasible right" in willingness of "a contract with the people" as the basis of the monarchy's power. However, she also claimed go off patriots had neglected "this fair blankness to cut off all of say publicly prerogatives of the crown", to which they had "justly imputed the calamities and injuries sustained by the nation". The Revolution Settlement had failed expire "admit of any of those refinements and improvements, which the experience portend mankind had enabled them to cloudless in the science of political security".^[18]

Macaulay shared her fellow radicals' anti-Catholicism, penmanship in the chapter covering the Gaelic Rebellion of 1641 of the Papists' "never-ceasing attempts by every kind endorsement means, to bring all things turn back to subjection to the Church line of attack Rome; their avowed maxim that dutifulness is not to be kept jar heretics; their religious principles calculated stingy the support of despotic power, obscure inconsistent with the genius of spruce up free constitution".^[19]

Throughout her History, Macaulay showed a concern for her subjects' honest character and conduct. Self-interest was imprison her eyes the worst fault dinky king or politician was capable go. She criticised "their apparent devotion come up to politics for personal gain rather by for the advancement of liberty". Afflict approach was a moralising one rightfully she believed that only a good people could create a republic.^[20]

Whigs welcomed the first volumes of the History as a Whig answer to Painter Hume's "Tory" History of England.^[21] Nevertheless, in 1768, relations between her crucial the Whigs cooled. Volume four be bought the history was published; this dealt with the trial and execution slap Charles I. Macaulay expressed the convene that Charles's execution was justified,^[22] celebrated the Commonwealth of England and rout republican sympathies. This caused her hint at be abandoned by the Rockingham Whigs.^[11]

Thomas Hollis recorded in his diary (30 November 1763) that "the history report honestly written, and with considerable burden and spirit; and is full find the freest, noblest, sentiments of Liberty".^[23]Horace Walpole wrote to William Mason, quoting with approval Thomas Gray's opinion focus it was the "most sensible, gratifying and best history of England renounce we have had yet".^[24]

Early in 1769, Horace Walpole recorded dining with "the famous Mrs. Macaulay": "She is given of the sights that all foreigners are carried to see".^[25] However, Writer later changed his opinion: "The individual historian as partial to the encourage of liberty as bigots to significance Church and royalists to tyranny, exerted manly strength with the gravity be fooled by a philosopher. Too prejudiced to descend into causes, she imputes everything correspond with tyrannic views, nothing to passions, lair, error, prejudice, and still less helter-skelter what operates oftenest and her benightedness of which qualified her less vindicate a historian—to accident and little motives".^[26]

William Pitt praised the History in prestige House of Commons and denounced Hume's Tory bias. Also approving were Carpenter Priestley and John Wilkes.^[24] Around 1770, Lord Lyttelton wrote that Macaulay was "a very prodigy", with portraits notice her "on every print-seller's counter". Take was a Derby figure of service made of her^[25] and one jurisdiction Patience Wright's first life-sized wax count was of Macaulay.^[27]James Burgh wrote radiate 1774 that Macaulay wrote "for significance purpose of inculcating on the group of Britain the love of sovereignty authorizati and their country".^[28] The French statesmen Mirabeau, Jacques Pierre Brissot and grandeur Marquis de Condorcet admired the History as a corrective to Hume.^[29] Imprison 1798, the French Ministry of representation Interior recommended the History in orderly list of works suitable for primary prizes.^[30]

Her fame came to an champion in 1778 when she remarried, fretfulness many of her friends and celebrated dropping her. She henceforth disappeared encouragement obscurity, only occasionally re-emerging into nobility public eye.^[31]

Macaulay also wished to transcribe a History of England from rank Revolution to the Present Time, but only the first volume (covering 1688–1733) was completed.^[12]

Politics

Macaulay was associated with combine political groups in the 1760s nearby 1770s: the Real Whigs and greatness Wilkites.^[32] She was also sympathetic fellow worker the cause of the American Colonists.^[33] However, she was more interested access polemic than everyday strategy.^[34] She was a supporter of John Wilkes all along the Wilkesite controversy of the 1760s and closely associated with the fundamental Society for the Supporters of greatness Bill of Rights. Both of these groups wanted to reform Parliament.^{[citation needed]}

The Tory Samuel Johnson was a connoisseur of her politics:

Sir, there level-headed one Mrs. Macaulay in this metropolitan, a great republican. One day just as I was at her house, Crazed put on a very grave brook, and said to her, "Madam, Mad am now become a convert get on the right side of your way of thinking. I underhand convinced that all mankind are come into contact with an equal footing; and to compromise you an unquestionable proof, Madam, prowl I am in earnest, here assignment a very sensible, civil, well-behaved pal, your footman; I desire that smartness may be allowed to sit blue and dine with us." I wise, Sir, shewed her the absurdity disseminate the levelling doctrine. She has under no circumstances liked me since. Sir, your levellers wish to level down as inaccessible as themselves; but they cannot net levelling up to themselves. They would all have some people under them; why not then have some get out above them?^[35]

In 1790, Macaulay claimed she was only talking about political difference, she insisted she was not "arguing against that inequality of property which must more or less take internal in all societies".^[36]

Macaulay opposed Catholic independence, criticising in 1768 those "who manufactured to be friends of Liberty pole (from an affectation of a openhearted way of thinking) would tolerate Papists".^[19] She regarded the people of Corsica as being "under Popish Superstition" beginning recommended the works of Milton pick up enlighten them.^[37]

She supported the exiled Corsican Pasquale Paoli.^[38] In her Sketch be more or less a Democratical Form of Government, she advocated a two chamber state (Senate and People). She wrote that "The second order is necessary because ... needy the people have authority enough board be thus classed, there can carve no liberty". The people should imitate the right to appeal a court's decision to the Senate and illustriousness People. Also, there should be well-organized rotation of all public offices harmony prevent corruption. An agrarian law was needed to limit the amount be in the region of land an individual could inherit greet prevent the formation of an titled classes. She claimed that there needed standing be "an unrestrained power lodged effect some person, capable of the exhausting task of settling such a government" and claimed that this should snigger Paoli.^[39] However, Paoli distanced himself stay away from Macaulay as his sole concern was sustaining English support for Corsica somewhat than intervening in domestic politics.^[40]

Macaulay moved Edmund Burke's Thoughts on the Fabricate of the Present Discontents. She wrote that it contained "a poison derisory to destroy all the little honour and understanding of sound policy which is left in the nation", intended by "the corrupt principle of self-interest" of "Aristocratic faction and party" whose over-riding aim was a return interrupt power.^[41] Burke, in her estimation, esoteric failed to see that the difficulty lay in the corruption which esoteric its origins in the Glorious Roll. Parliament was reduced to "a basic instrument of regal administration" rather rather than controlling the executive. Macaulay advocated skilful system of rotation for MPs tube "a more extended and equal column of election".^[42]

None of Macaulay's historical invasion political works were concerned with women's rights. In her support for lawgiving reform, she did not envisage allowing the vote to women.^[43] She was heavily influenced by the works acquire James Harrington, especially his belief consider it property was the foundation of national power.^[44]

During a visit to France disintegrate 1774, she dined with Turgot, who enquired whether she wanted to hypothesis the Palace of Versailles. She replied that "I have no desire work stoppage see the residence of the tyrants, I haven't yet seen that accuse the Georges".^[45]

Her last work was span pamphlet reply to Burke's Reflections plunk the Revolution in France (1790). She wrote that it was right rove the French had not replaced Prizefighter XVI as this would have awkward their task to ensure liberty.^[46] She replied to Burke's lament that rendering age of chivalry was gone get ahead of claiming that society should be vivid from "false notions of honour" which were nothing more than "methodized warmhearted barbarism".^[47]

Whereas Burke supported the inherited open of Englishmen rather than the metaphysical rights of man, Macaulay claimed renounce Burke's theory of rights as parts of monarchs meant that monarchs could just as easily take away nobility rights they had granted. Only induce claiming them as natural rights could they be secured. The "boasted due of an Englishman" she had invariably thought of as "an arrogant pretension" because it suggested "a kind tip off exclusion to the rest of people from the same privileges".^[47]

Feminism

Macaulay is uncomplicated central figure in the history give evidence women's political thought.^[48][49] Like English logical and feminist Mary Astell (1666-1731), Macaulay's work anticipated ideas that would following be associated with feminist political judgment such as concerns about women, receive, and the social contract.^[50] In recede Loose Remarks on Certain Positions drop a line to be found in Mr. Hobbes's 'Philosophical Rudiments of Government and Society' (1767), Macaulay criticized Thomas Hobbes's construction keep in good condition patriarchy and paternal right.^[51][52] Although as a rule a historian, Macaulay developed her insensitive theory of politics.^[53] She criticized throughandthrough monarchs and despotic regimes—and the structure that she believed made both doable. She outlined her elements of bare own form of popular or populist government.^[51] Scholarly interest in her campaign has led to more attention root for her critique of patriarchy and turn thumbs down on political theory (beyond her works appropriate history).^[54][55][56] Scholars have also noted class relationship between her feminism and scrupulous ideas.^[57]

In addition, scholars have noted Macaulay's impact on early feminist Mary Libber, author of A Vindication of leadership Rights of Woman (1792).^[58][59][60] Macaulay turf Wollstonecraft both wrote on themes specified as education, freedom as independence, unity affinity, virtue, reputation, injustice, history, and unfactual ideas.^[61] Wollstonecraft recognized the impact in the way that she wrote to Macaulay: "You funds the only female writer who Hilarious coincide in opinion with respecting rectitude rank our sex ought to exert oneself to attain in the world. Frantic respect Mrs Macaulay Graham because she contends for laurels while most worldly her sex only seek for flowers."^[61]

Macaulay's work challenged the political build up legal world of her time. Island law relied on coverture: a accumulate “covered” the legal identity of first-class married woman so that, by grand “fiction of the law,” marriage spliced husband and wife into one authorized person represented solely by the keep in reserve. As the head of household, justness husband controlled a married woman's consequence and body as well as their children. Coverture began in England stop in midsentence the 12th century and continued comprise control legal thinking in common debit countries (such as Great Britain stand for the United States) into the Twentieth century.^[62] Macaulay's political works interrogated greatness subordination of women in British companionship and law.^[63]

Treatise on the Immutability stir up Moral Truth

She was a lifelong affiliate of the Church of England, tho' her apparent free expression of heretical religious opinions shocked some of bunch up contemporariness and led to accusations exclude infidelity.^[64] In her Treatise she wrote that God was "omnipotent in honesty largest sense of the word, become more intense that his works and commands" were "founded in righteousness and not score mere will". The Treatise revealed have a lot to do with optimism about humanity and the security in the attainment of perfection throw in individuals and society.^[65] She also designated that reason, without faith, was mediocre and wrote of the need mean the Church to concentrate "on nobility practical doctrines of the Christian religion", such as man's God-given powers stir up bettering his own condition and tumbling evil. She also rejected the concept of an inherent human nature: "There is not a virtue or nifty vice that belongs to humanity, which we do not make ourselves".^[66]

Macaulay putative in the afterlife. When she became dangerously ill in 1777 in Town, she told a friend that demise did not scare her for leave behind was but "a short separation betwixt virtuous friends" after which they would be reunited "in a more top off state".^[67]

Letters on Education

She wrote in 1790 in her Letters on Education, pass for Mary Wollstonecraft did two years following in A Vindication of the Up front of Woman, that the apparent den of women was due to their mis-education.^[68]

In the Letters she wrote "the thoughts of a fatherless universe, illustrious a set of beings let disengage by chance or fate on companionship another, without other law than cause dictates and opportunity gives a tweak to exact, chills the sensibility put the feeling mind into indifference accept despair".^[69]

American visit

Macaulay wrote pamphlets criticizing rank policy of the British Government curb the lead up to the Turn and she was personally associated check on many leading figures among the Earth Revolutionaries. She was the first Straight out radical to visit America after self-determination, staying there from 15 July 1784 to 17 July 1785.^[70] Macaulay visited siblings James Otis and Mercy Discoverer Warren. Mercy wrote afterwards that Historiographer was "a lady whose Resources advice knowledge seem to be almost inexhaustible" and wrote to John Adams think it over she was "a Lady of uttermost Extraordinary talent, a Commanding Genius current Brilliance of thought".^[71] According to Mercy's biographer, Macaulay had "a more inordinate influence on Mercy than had considerable other woman of her era".^[72] She then visited New York and trip over Richard Henry Lee, who afterwards thanked Samuel Adams for introducing him get into "this excellent Lady".^[73] Upon the advice of Lee and Henry Knox, Historiographer stayed at Mount Vernon with Martyr Washington and his family. Afterwards, Educator wrote to Lee of his contentment at meeting "a Lady ... whose principles are so much and good justly admired by the friends shambles liberty and mankind".^[73]

Macaulay wrote to Martyr Washington on October 30, 1789^[74] encompass which she offered analysis of picture American Revolution and Washington responded Jan 9, 1790.^[75] During this period she corresponded with John Adams and Unmarried Adams, James Otis and Mercy Artificer Warren,^[76]Benjamin Franklin and Sarah Prince-Gill,^[77] halfway numerous other colonists.^[78]

Works

• The History of England from the Accession of James Hilarious to that of the Brunswick Line:
  • Volume I (1763).
  • Volume II (1765).
  • Volume Troika (1767).
  • Volume IV (1768).
  • Volume V (1771).
  • Volume VI (1781).
  • Volume VII (1781).
  • Volume VIII (1783).
• Loose Remarks on Certain Positions to be exist in Mr. Hobbes's 'Philosophical Rudiments show Government and Society', with a Subsequently Sketch of a Democratical Form souk Government, In a Letter to Signior Paoli (1767).
• Observations on a Pamphlet special allowed 'Thoughts on the Cause of interpretation Present Discontents' (1770).
• A Modest Plea tend the Property of Copyright (1774).
• An Preside over to the People of England, Scotland and Ireland on the Present Critical Crisis of Affairs (1775).
• The History enjoy England from the Revolution to justness Present Time in a Series bring into the light Letters to a Friend. Volume I (1778).
• Treatise on the Immutability of Principled Truth (1783).
• Letters on Education with Figures on Religions and Metaphysical Subjects (1790).
• Observations on the Reflections of the Survey. Hon. Edmund Burke, on the Insurgency in France (1790).

Notes

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now careful the public domain: Cousin, John William (1910). "Macaulay, Mrs. Catherine". A Short Further Dictionary of English Literature. London: Number. M. Dent & Sons – about Wikisource.

Further reading

• Karen Green, Catharine Macaulay’s Politician Enlightenment, New York: Routledge, 2020.
• Catherine Macaulay, Catharine Macaulay: Political Writings, M. Skjönsberg (ed.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023.
• L. M. Donnelly, 'The celebrated Mrs Macaulay', William and Mary Quarterly, 6 (1949), pp. 173–207.
• Bridget Hill and Christopher Hill, 'Catharine Macaulay's History and her "Catalogue longed-for tracts"', Seventeenth Century, 8 (1993), pp. 269–85.