Gilbert Imlay
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Imlay was an American businessman, author, and diplomat. Imlay was known in his day as a shrewd but unscrupulous businessman involved in land speculation in Kentucky
. He later served in the U.S. embassy to France and became one of the earliest American writers, producing two books, the influential A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America, and a novel, The Emmigrants, both of which promoted settlement in the North American interior. However, he is best known today for his brief relationship with British feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft
, which resulted in the birth of a daughter, Fanny Imlay
.
he served in the New Jersey Line
, enlisting for a time in Forman's Additional Continental Regiment. He rose to the rank of First Lieutenant
in the Continental Army
; though he would later style himself "Captain", there is no evidence he ever actually attained this rank.
After the war Imlay sought his fortune in the western territories, purchasing a tract of land in Fayette County
, one of three territories into which Kentucky
had been divided, in 1783. He arrived there in March 1784, and quickly became involved in land speculation. In 1785 he left quietly left America, probably for Europe, leaving a string of unpaid debts in his wake. In 1792 he was in Britain, where he published his influential A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America that year. In 1793 he published a novel, The Emigrants. Both works promoted the American interior and encouraged their settlement by whites.
Imlay's A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America was published in London in 1792, which in subsequent editions included the adventures of Daniel Boone (written by John Filson
) as an appendix. With Wollstonecraft's assistance, Imlay also tried his hand at novel-writing, publishing The Emigrants in 1793. In 1793, during the French Revolution
, he became a diplomatic representative of the United States to France while at the same time pursuing his own business interests. At the time British forces were blockading the French ports and he profited by running that blockade. This is where he met Mary Wollstonecraft. In order to shield herself from the dangers of the French Revolution, Wollstonecraft registered at the American Embassy as Imlay's wife, though they never actually married. After the birth of their daughter, Fanny, Wollstonecraft followed him to Paris. He returned almost immediately to London, leaving Wollstonecraft and her daughter alone in Paris. She eventually joined him in London, where she discovered that Imlay was living with an actress. This effectively ended their relationship, with serious impact on Wollstonecraft's reputation. He showed no interest in his child's welfare, and left her to the care of others after her mother's death three years later.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He later served in the U.S. embassy to France and became one of the earliest American writers, producing two books, the influential A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America, and a novel, The Emmigrants, both of which promoted settlement in the North American interior. However, he is best known today for his brief relationship with British feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. During her brief career, she wrote novels, treatises, a travel narrative, a history of the French Revolution, a conduct book, and a children's book...
, which resulted in the birth of a daughter, Fanny Imlay
Fanny Imlay
Frances "Fanny" Imlay , also known as Fanny Godwin, was the illegitimate daughter of the British feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and the American commercial speculator Gilbert Imlay.Although Mary Wollstonecraft and Gilbert Imlay lived together happily for brief periods before and after the birth...
.
Life
Little is known of Imlay's early life. He was born in 1754, probably in Upper Freehold, New Jersey, where the Imlay family first settled in the early 18th century. During the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
he served in the New Jersey Line
New Jersey Line
The New Jersey Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "New Jersey Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to New Jersey at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the...
, enlisting for a time in Forman's Additional Continental Regiment. He rose to the rank of First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
; though he would later style himself "Captain", there is no evidence he ever actually attained this rank.
After the war Imlay sought his fortune in the western territories, purchasing a tract of land in Fayette County
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
, one of three territories into which Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
had been divided, in 1783. He arrived there in March 1784, and quickly became involved in land speculation. In 1785 he left quietly left America, probably for Europe, leaving a string of unpaid debts in his wake. In 1792 he was in Britain, where he published his influential A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America that year. In 1793 he published a novel, The Emigrants. Both works promoted the American interior and encouraged their settlement by whites.
Imlay's A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America was published in London in 1792, which in subsequent editions included the adventures of Daniel Boone (written by John Filson
John Filson
John Filson was an American author, historian of Kentucky, pioneer, surveyor and one of the founders of Cincinnati, Ohio.-Biography:...
) as an appendix. With Wollstonecraft's assistance, Imlay also tried his hand at novel-writing, publishing The Emigrants in 1793. In 1793, during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, he became a diplomatic representative of the United States to France while at the same time pursuing his own business interests. At the time British forces were blockading the French ports and he profited by running that blockade. This is where he met Mary Wollstonecraft. In order to shield herself from the dangers of the French Revolution, Wollstonecraft registered at the American Embassy as Imlay's wife, though they never actually married. After the birth of their daughter, Fanny, Wollstonecraft followed him to Paris. He returned almost immediately to London, leaving Wollstonecraft and her daughter alone in Paris. She eventually joined him in London, where she discovered that Imlay was living with an actress. This effectively ended their relationship, with serious impact on Wollstonecraft's reputation. He showed no interest in his child's welfare, and left her to the care of others after her mother's death three years later.
Further reading
- Verhoeven, Wil. "Gilbert Imlay: Citizen of the World". London: Pickering & Chatto, 2008; ISBN 978-1-85196-859-6