Margaret Gatty
Encyclopedia
Margaret Gatty (1809–4 October 1873) was an English writer of children's literature.
Gatty was born in Burnham on Crouch, Essex, the daughter of the Rev. Alexander John Scott
, D.D., a Royal Navy
chaplain, who served under, and was the trusted friend of, Lord Nelson
on board the HMS Victory
before and during the Battle of Trafalgar
.
She married the Rev. Alfred Gatty, D.D.
, Ecclesfield
, Yorkshire
in 1839 and moved into the vicarage of Church of St. Mary
shortly after. She became a highly useful and popular writer of tales for young people. Among her books may be mentioned Parables from Nature, Worlds not Realised, Proverbs Illustrated, and Aunt Judy's Tales. She also conducted Aunt Judy's Magazine
, a family publication written by various members of Margaret's large family. She became fascinated with marine biology
, possibly on the advice of William Henry Harvey
, who she had met in Hastings in 1848. Following this, she wrote a book on British seaweed
s which dejargonised much of which had been written previously on the subject. She corresponded with many of the greatest marine biologists of her day including George Busk
and Robert Brown
. Margaret Gatty amassed a large collection of marine material, much of which gathered by her correspondents in far flung corners of the British Empire. This was donated to Weston Park Museum by her daughter, Horatia Katherine Francis Gatty.
Gatty suffered from ill health for most of her life and is thought to have suffered from undiagnosed Multiple Sclerosis
. Her frequent bouts of illness resulted in a close friendship with Dr. George Johnston, a Doctor noted for advocating pain relieving medication. He advised her on the use of Chloroform
during child birth and Gatty became the first woman in Sheffield to use the drug during labour.
Gatty was the mother of Juliana Horatia Ewing
, also a writer of children's books, and Alfred Scott-Gatty
, who served as Garter Principal King of Arms
.
Gatty was born in Burnham on Crouch, Essex, the daughter of the Rev. Alexander John Scott
Alexander John Scott
Reverend Dr. Alexander John Scott was a chaplain who served in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He served as Horatio Nelson's personal chaplain at the Battle of Trafalgar, and had previously served as his private secretary...
, D.D., a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
chaplain, who served under, and was the trusted friend of, Lord Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
on board the HMS Victory
HMS Victory
HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765. She is most famous as Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805....
before and during the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
.
She married the Rev. Alfred Gatty, D.D.
Alfred Gatty
Alfred Gatty was a Church of England vicar and author.He was born in London to Robert Gatty, a solicitor, and Margaret Jones. In 1831 he entered Exeter College, Oxford, graduating in 1836. He was ordained a deacon in 1837 and was appointed as curate of Bellerby in the North Riding of Yorkshire...
, Ecclesfield
Ecclesfield
Ecclesfield is a suburb and civil parish in the City of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England, about north of Sheffield City Centre. At the 2001 census the civil parish— which also includes the Sheffield suburbs of Chapeltown, Grenoside, High Green, and formerly Thorpe Hesley —had a population...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
in 1839 and moved into the vicarage of Church of St. Mary
Church of St. Mary, Ecclesfield
The Church of St. Mary, Ecclesfield is situated on Church Street in the village of Ecclesfield, now a northern suburb of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is situated seven kilometres north of the city centre. It is a Grade One listed building, one of only five within the Sheffield city...
shortly after. She became a highly useful and popular writer of tales for young people. Among her books may be mentioned Parables from Nature, Worlds not Realised, Proverbs Illustrated, and Aunt Judy's Tales. She also conducted Aunt Judy's Magazine
Aunt Judy's Magazine
Aunt Judy's Magazine was a British magazine for young people founded in 1866 by Margaret Gatty and continued after her death in 1873 by her daughter Horatia Eden until 1885. It published much of the work of Juliana Horatia Ewing and perhaps most notably "Fairy Sylvie" and "Bruno's Revenge", two...
, a family publication written by various members of Margaret's large family. She became fascinated with marine biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
, possibly on the advice of William Henry Harvey
William Henry Harvey
William Henry Harvey was an Irish botanist who specialised in algae.- Biography :William Henry Harvey was born at Summerville near Limerick, Ireland, in 1811, the youngest of 11 children. His father Joseph Massey Harvey, was a Quaker and prominent merchant...
, who she had met in Hastings in 1848. Following this, she wrote a book on British seaweed
Seaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
s which dejargonised much of which had been written previously on the subject. She corresponded with many of the greatest marine biologists of her day including George Busk
George Busk
George Busk RN FRS was a British Naval surgeon, zoologist and palaeontologist.-Biography:Busk was born in St Petersburg, the son of the merchant Robert Busk and grandson of Sir Wadsworth Busk...
and Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
. Margaret Gatty amassed a large collection of marine material, much of which gathered by her correspondents in far flung corners of the British Empire. This was donated to Weston Park Museum by her daughter, Horatia Katherine Francis Gatty.
Gatty suffered from ill health for most of her life and is thought to have suffered from undiagnosed Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. Her frequent bouts of illness resulted in a close friendship with Dr. George Johnston, a Doctor noted for advocating pain relieving medication. He advised her on the use of Chloroform
Chloroform
Chloroform is an organic compound with formula CHCl3. It is one of the four chloromethanes. The colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid is a trihalomethane, and is considered somewhat hazardous...
during child birth and Gatty became the first woman in Sheffield to use the drug during labour.
Gatty was the mother of Juliana Horatia Ewing
Juliana Horatia Ewing
Juliana Horatia Ewing was an English writer of children's stories.-Youth and marriage:Known as Julie, she was the second of ten children of the Reverend Alfred Gatty, vicar of Ecclesfield in Yorkshire, and Margaret Gatty, who was herself a children's author...
, also a writer of children's books, and Alfred Scott-Gatty
Alfred Scott-Gatty
Sir Alfred Scott Scott-Gatty, KCVO, KStJ, FSA was a long serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London and a successful composer.-Personal life:...
, who served as Garter Principal King of Arms
Garter Principal King of Arms
The Garter Principal King of Arms is the senior King of Arms, and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms. He is therefore the most powerful herald within the jurisdiction of the College – primarily England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and so arguably the most powerful in the world...
.