Catherine Talbot
Encyclopedia
Catherine Talbot was an English author and member of the Blue Stockings Society.
. Her father, Edward, who was elected fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, and appointed archdeacon of Berkshire in 1717, died on 9 December 1720. At the time of his death Catherine Benson, sister of Martin Benson, bishop of Gloucester
, was residing at his house, and on her marriage to Thomas Secker
, a protégé of Talbot, in 1725, Mrs. Talbot and Catherine, who were not well off, went to live with the newly married couple, and remained members of the household till Secker's death in 1768.
Catherine's education was superintended by Secker. She became learned in the Scriptures and an accomplished linguist. She also painted in watercolours and read widely. As a child her talent was recognised, for example by Thomas Rundle. February 1741 saw her lifelong friendship with Elizabeth Carter
begin; the introduction was by Wright, Miss Talbot’s tutor in astronomy. The two ladies carried on a lively and copious correspondence.
As Secker was successively rector of St. James's, Westminster, bishop of Oxford
, dean of St. Paul's, and finally in 1758 archbishop of Canterbury
, Catherine Talbot frequented the society of her time. She knew among others Bishop Butler, Lord Lyttelton, William Pulteney, earl of Bath, Mrs. Montagu, the Duchess of Somerset, with whom she often stayed at Percy Lodge, and Samuel Richardson
. Richardson discussed Sir Charles Grandison with her and Elizabeth Carter, adopted their suggestions, and sent them parts of the novel to read before publication. Catherine Talbot visited Richardson at North End, Hammersmith. She also encouraged Carter to translate Epictetus
, and corresponded with her on the subject while the work was in progress.
During the whole period of her residence with him Catherine Talbot was Secker's almoner. In 1760, accompanied by Elizabeth Carter, she went to Bristol
for her health. Secker died in 1768, leaving to Mrs. Talbot and her daughter £13,000 in the public funds. The ladies moved from Lambeth Palace
to Lower Grosvenor Street. There Catherine died of cancer on 9 January 1770 in her forty-ninth year. Several poems were written in her praise.
’s The Rambler
(No. xxx., 30 June 1750).
Mrs. Talbot put her daughter’s manuscripts into Elizabeth Carter’s hand, leaving their publication to her discretion. In 1770 Elizabeth Carter published at her own expense Catherine Talbot’s ‘Reflections on the Seven Days of the Week,’ a work that was constantly reprinted. The ‘Reflections’ are on religious and moral topics. In 1772 another book by Catherine Talbot, ‘Essays on Various Subjects,’ was published. It contained essays, dialogues, prose pastorals, a fairy tale, imitations of Ossian
, allegories, and a few original poems. Between 1772 and 1819 several collected editions of her works appeared. Her correspondence with Elizabeth Carter, published in 1809, shows an interest in public affairs, observation of men and manners, and affection for her friends.
Life
Born in May 1721, was the posthumous and only child of Edward Talbot, second son of William Talbot, bishop of Durham, and his wife Mary (died 1784), daughter of George Martyn, prebendary of Lincoln. Her uncle Charles Talbot, another son of the bishop, was lord chancellorLord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
. Her father, Edward, who was elected fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, and appointed archdeacon of Berkshire in 1717, died on 9 December 1720. At the time of his death Catherine Benson, sister of Martin Benson, bishop of Gloucester
Bishop of Gloucester
The Bishop of Gloucester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the County of Gloucestershire and part of the County of Worcestershire and has its see in the City of Gloucester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church...
, was residing at his house, and on her marriage to Thomas Secker
Thomas Secker
Thomas Secker , Archbishop of Canterbury, was born at Sibthorpe, Nottinghamshire.-Early life and studies:In 1699, Secker went to Richard Brown's free school in Chesterfield, staying with his half-sister and her husband, Elizabeth and Richard Milnes...
, a protégé of Talbot, in 1725, Mrs. Talbot and Catherine, who were not well off, went to live with the newly married couple, and remained members of the household till Secker's death in 1768.
Catherine's education was superintended by Secker. She became learned in the Scriptures and an accomplished linguist. She also painted in watercolours and read widely. As a child her talent was recognised, for example by Thomas Rundle. February 1741 saw her lifelong friendship with Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter was an English poet, classicist, writer and translator, and a member of the Bluestocking Circle.-Biography:...
begin; the introduction was by Wright, Miss Talbot’s tutor in astronomy. The two ladies carried on a lively and copious correspondence.
As Secker was successively rector of St. James's, Westminster, bishop of Oxford
Bishop of Oxford
The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford...
, dean of St. Paul's, and finally in 1758 archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Catherine Talbot frequented the society of her time. She knew among others Bishop Butler, Lord Lyttelton, William Pulteney, earl of Bath, Mrs. Montagu, the Duchess of Somerset, with whom she often stayed at Percy Lodge, and Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson was an 18th-century English writer and printer. He is best known for his three epistolary novels: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded , Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady and The History of Sir Charles Grandison...
. Richardson discussed Sir Charles Grandison with her and Elizabeth Carter, adopted their suggestions, and sent them parts of the novel to read before publication. Catherine Talbot visited Richardson at North End, Hammersmith. She also encouraged Carter to translate Epictetus
Epictetus
Epictetus was a Greek sage and Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia , and lived in Rome until banishment when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece where he lived the rest of his life. His teachings were noted down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses...
, and corresponded with her on the subject while the work was in progress.
During the whole period of her residence with him Catherine Talbot was Secker's almoner. In 1760, accompanied by Elizabeth Carter, she went to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
for her health. Secker died in 1768, leaving to Mrs. Talbot and her daughter £13,000 in the public funds. The ladies moved from Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. It is located in Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames a short distance upstream of the Palace of Westminster on the opposite shore. It was acquired by the archbishopric around 1200...
to Lower Grosvenor Street. There Catherine died of cancer on 9 January 1770 in her forty-ninth year. Several poems were written in her praise.
Works
Her health prevented continuous work, but she wrote essays and detached pieces in a ‘green book,’ constantly referred to by her friends. They were unable to persuade her to publish her compositions. She contributed, however, one paper to Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
’s The Rambler
The Rambler
The Rambler was a periodical by Samuel Johnson.-Description:The Rambler was published on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1750 to 1752 and totals 208 articles. It was Johnson's most consistent and sustained work in the English language...
(No. xxx., 30 June 1750).
Mrs. Talbot put her daughter’s manuscripts into Elizabeth Carter’s hand, leaving their publication to her discretion. In 1770 Elizabeth Carter published at her own expense Catherine Talbot’s ‘Reflections on the Seven Days of the Week,’ a work that was constantly reprinted. The ‘Reflections’ are on religious and moral topics. In 1772 another book by Catherine Talbot, ‘Essays on Various Subjects,’ was published. It contained essays, dialogues, prose pastorals, a fairy tale, imitations of Ossian
Ossian
Ossian is the narrator and supposed author of a cycle of poems which the Scottish poet James Macpherson claimed to have translated from ancient sources in the Scots Gaelic. He is based on Oisín, son of Finn or Fionn mac Cumhaill, anglicised to Finn McCool, a character from Irish mythology...
, allegories, and a few original poems. Between 1772 and 1819 several collected editions of her works appeared. Her correspondence with Elizabeth Carter, published in 1809, shows an interest in public affairs, observation of men and manners, and affection for her friends.