More often than not, the facts you read on most trivia pages and in timelines refer to the exploits and daring-do of men for that particular period, with an occasional woman thrown in now and then. While we tend to think that women before the 20th century were more "seen" than "heard" and sat quietly in the background, there were many accomplishments and uncredited events that originated and were created by women. The Georgian Era - 1714 to 1811 - was no exception. Let us tell you not only some interesting tidbits about the era itself, but also of the remarkable women who occupied this time in history as well.
1714 - 1720
- 1714
- Queen Anne dies at the age of 48. She is succeeded by Hanover George William of Germany, age 54. Did you know that he spoke no English, knew nothing of English customs and laws, and was politely referred to by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu as "an honest blockhead"!
- Much
of the treatment of women during this time and for many years to
come, is based upon the Japanese philospher-teacher Ekiken Kaibara's
booklet Onnadaigaku. In it, he teaches the following principles
of Confucianism (Sound familiar to English
society?):
- Children should be segregated by sex by age 7
- Marriages should all be arranged by the parents
- Until a woman is married, she must obey her father
- After marriage, she must obey her husband
- After her husband's death, she must obey her oldest son
- A marriage not condoned by the parents is deemed adulterous
- A woman must be submissive and obedient to be virtuous
- Women with ability, brains or talent are "troublesome"! (They had no idea!)
- Women must be good at weaving, sewing, cooking and washing
- She must be child-producing
- If a woman cannot bear children, she is expected to leave (He goes on to say she may remain only if she is good-natured and her husband is able to have children by his mistress. Fat-chance on that one.)
- A wife's duty is absolute obedience to her husband, and she must never disparage or criticize him
- A wife must not complain if her husband visits a brothel, and should even pay his brothel bills without complaint.
- 1715:
- The Rudiments of Grammar is published by Elizabeth Elstob. It is the first Anglo-Saxon book on grammar and is sent to 250 Anglo-Saxon scholars, half women. However, the vast majority of women in England still remain illiterate.
- In the colony of New Jersey, Quaker Sybilla Masters receives a London patent for a machine to process Indian corn by stamping instead of grinding.
- 1716:
- Sybilla obtains a second patent in London for "the Sole Working and Weaving" and a "New Method, Palmetto Chips, and Straw, for Covering hats and bonnets, and other improvements in ware." (Her husband quickly has the patent put in his name. It figures.)
- Midwives in New York City are required to take out licenses and swear to the traditional midwife's oath.
- 1717:
- In Prussia school attendance is mandatory: for boys, that is. Very few families allow their daughters to be educated.
- 1718:
- Catherine the Great of Russia assumes increased power after the death of Peter the Great's son, Aleksei. His father had him lashed twice for "imagining rebellion", and the young man dies at the age of 28 from his wounds. Empress Catherine spends the next 7 years of her marriage trying to keep Peter away from other women and vodka (but look where it got her in the end!).
- Hannah Penn, wife of William Penn, inherits control over the Pennsylvania colonies after the death of her husband. She governs wisely for 14 years, even winning out over her son's efforts to have Penn's will nullified; sadly she dies a week later from a stroke.
- Charles XII of Sweden is assassinated and succeeded by his 30 year old sister, Ulrika Eleanor, who subsequently puts to rest the Great Northern War. (It always takes a woman to make peace.)
- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (biggest fan of the "honest blockhead") learns of inoculations for smallpox in Constantinople and introduces the procedure to Britain (She herself has been severely pitted by smallpox, but still managed to procure lovers right and left with no problem. What a gal!)
- Twenty-one year old Marie de Vichy-Chamrond marries the marquis de Deffand, but they separate shortly thereafter. Considered beautiful and witty, she opens a salon that soon draws all the leading literary figures of Paris. (Who needs a measly marquis when you can have the whole city?)
- 1719:
- Sweden's Ulrika Eleanora and George I sign the Peace of Stockholm. (As we said, it always takes a woman.)
- 1720:
- Ulrika abdicates in favor of her husband who becomes Frederick I and reigns until 1751. (His payback? His power is soon stripped by a new constitution.)
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