George Ballard
Encyclopedia
George Ballard was an English
antiquary and biographer, the author of Memoirs of British Ladies (1752).
Ballard was born at Chipping Campden
, Gloucestershire
. Self-educated, Ballard taught himself Saxon
while working in a habit-maker's shop, and attracted the attention of the Saxon scholar Elizabeth Elstob
. Lord Chedworth and other local gentleman provided him with an annuity of £60 a year, enabling Ballard to move to Oxford
to use the Bodleian Library
. Dr. Jenner appointed him a clerk of Magdalen College, Oxford
, and he subsequently became a university beadle
.
Ballard died young, and his only printed publication was Memoirs of several ladies of Great Britain, who have been celebrated for their writings, or skill in the learned languages, arts and sciences (1752). This quarto volume was published by subscription, and dedicated to Mrs Talbot of Kineton
, the wife of a clergyman who had helped him receive patronage as a young man, and Mary Delany
. The first woman treated by Ballard's Memoirs was Juliana of Norwich; the last was Constantia Grierson
(1704/5–1732).
Ballard left a large manuscript collection, and his substantial correspondence, to the Bodleian.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
antiquary and biographer, the author of Memoirs of British Ladies (1752).
Ballard was born at Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. Self-educated, Ballard taught himself Saxon
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
while working in a habit-maker's shop, and attracted the attention of the Saxon scholar Elizabeth Elstob
Elizabeth Elstob
Elizabeth Elstob , the 'Saxon Nymph,' was born and brought up in the Quayside area of Newcastle upon Tyne, and, like Mary Astell of Newcastle, is nowadays regarded as one of the first English feminists...
. Lord Chedworth and other local gentleman provided him with an annuity of £60 a year, enabling Ballard to move to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
to use the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
. Dr. Jenner appointed him a clerk of Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, and he subsequently became a university beadle
Beadle
Beadle, sometimes spelled "bedel," is a lay official of a church or synagogue who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational, or ceremonial duties....
.
Ballard died young, and his only printed publication was Memoirs of several ladies of Great Britain, who have been celebrated for their writings, or skill in the learned languages, arts and sciences (1752). This quarto volume was published by subscription, and dedicated to Mrs Talbot of Kineton
Kineton
Kineton is a village and civil parish on the River Dene in south-eastern Warwickshire, England. The village is part of Stratford-on-Avon district, and in the 2001 census it had a population of 2,278....
, the wife of a clergyman who had helped him receive patronage as a young man, and Mary Delany
Mary Delany
Mary Delany was an English Bluestocking, artist, and letter-writer; equally famous for her "paper-mosaicks" and her lively correspondence.-Early life:...
. The first woman treated by Ballard's Memoirs was Juliana of Norwich; the last was Constantia Grierson
Constantia Grierson
Constantia Grierson [née Crawley] , was an editor, poet, and classical scholar from County Kilkenny, Ireland.- Life :...
(1704/5–1732).
Ballard left a large manuscript collection, and his substantial correspondence, to the Bodleian.
Subjects of Memoirs of British Ladies
This is a list of the women who are treated in George Ballard's book Memoirs of British Ladies. Ballard provided memoirs for over 60 women, presenting them in chronological order.- Anne AskewAnne AskewAnne Askew was an English poet and Protestant who was condemned as a heretic...
('Anne Askew, alias Kyme') (1521–1546), Protestant martyr - 'Mary AstellMary AstellMary Astell was an English feminist writer and rhetorician. Her advocacy of equal educational opportunities for women has earned her the title "the first English feminist."-Life and career:...
' (1688–1731), miscellaneous writer - Ann BaynardAnn BaynardAnn Baynard was a British natural philosopher and model of piety....
, 'Anne Baynard' (1672–1697), savant - Margaret Beaufort ('Margaret Countess of Richmond and Derby') (1443–1509), mother of Henry VII
- Juliana BernersJuliana BernersJuliana Berners , English writer on heraldry, hawking and hunting, is said to have been prioress of Sopwell nunnery near St Albans...
, 'Juliana Barnes, alias Berners' (b. ca. 1388), writer - Elizabeth Blake, Elizabeth Berkeley, 'Elizabeth Burnet' (1661–1709), religious writer, married Gilbert BurnetGilbert BurnetGilbert Burnet was a Scottish theologian and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was respected as a cleric, a preacher, and an academic, as well as a writer and historian...
- Catherine of AragonCatherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
('Queen Catherine') (1485–1536), queen consort - Catherine ParrCatherine ParrCatherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
('Queen Katherine Parr') (1512–1548), queen consort - Katherine ChidleyKatherine ChidleyKatherine Chidley was a religious controversialist & Leveller.Her origins and background are unknown but by the late 1640s she had emerged as the leader of Leveller women....
(fl.FloruitFloruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1616–1653), religious controversialist & Leveller - Lady Anne CliffordLady Anne CliffordLady Anne Clifford, 14th Baroness de Clifford was the only surviving child of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland by his wife Lady Margaret Russell, daughter of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford...
, 'Anne Countess of Pembroke' (1590–1676), autobiographer - Ann Cooke, married name Ann Bacon, 'Lady Bacon' (1528–1610), daughter of Sir Anthony CookeAnthony CookeSir Anthony Cooke was an eminent English humanist, scholar and tutor to Edward VI, England's first ruler to be raised as a Protestant.-Background:...
, mother of Francis BaconFrancis BaconFrancis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England... - Catherine CookeCatherine CookeCatherine Anne Chichester Cooke was a British architect and a Russian scholar of international renown. She was Lecturer in Design at the Open University at the time of her death in a car accident in 2004...
, 'Katherine Killigrew' (c. 1530-1583), daughter of Sir Anthony CookeAnthony CookeSir Anthony Cooke was an eminent English humanist, scholar and tutor to Edward VI, England's first ruler to be raised as a Protestant.-Background:... - Elizabeth Cooke, Elizabeth RussellElizabeth HobyElizabeth, Lady Hoby was an English noblewoman...
, 'Lady Russel' (1528–1609), linguist, daughter of Sir Anthony CookeAnthony CookeSir Anthony Cooke was an eminent English humanist, scholar and tutor to Edward VI, England's first ruler to be raised as a Protestant.-Background:... - Margaret Cooke, married name Margaret RowlettMargaret RowlettMargaret Rowlett was born in North Carolina, where she attended school in a log house, picked cotton, and by age 14 worked for three dollars a week in a rag mill...
(d. 1558), gentlewoman, daughter of Sir Anthony CookeAnthony CookeSir Anthony Cooke was an eminent English humanist, scholar and tutor to Edward VI, England's first ruler to be raised as a Protestant.-Background:... - Mildred CookeMildred CookeMildred Cooke, Lady Burghley was an English noblewoman, translator, and poet of the sixteenth century.-Life and work:Mildred was the eldest of the five daughters of Sir Anthony Cooke and Anne Fitzwilliam. She studied Latin and Greek, which she especially enjoyed translating...
, Mildred Cecil, 'Lady Burleigh' (1526–1689), daughter of Sir Anthony CookeAnthony CookeSir Anthony Cooke was an eminent English humanist, scholar and tutor to Edward VI, England's first ruler to be raised as a Protestant.-Background:...
, married William Cecil, 1st Baron BurghleyWilliam Cecil, 1st Baron BurghleyWilliam Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572... - Damaris Cudworth, 'Lady Masham' (1658–1708), philosopher & theological author
- Elizabeth EgertonElizabeth EgertonElizabeth Egerton , countess of Bridgewater , was an English writer. She was encouraged in her literary interests from a young age by her father, William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, himself an author and patron of the arts surrounded by a literary coterie which included Ben Jonson, Thomas...
, née Cavendish, 'Elizabeth countess of Bridgwater' (1626–1663), writer - 'Queen ElizabethElizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
' (1533–1603) - 'Lady Elizabeth Fane' (d. 1568), writer & literary patron
- Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea, née Kingsmill, 'Anne Countess of Winchelsea' (1661–1720), poet
- Elizabeth FisherElizabeth BlandElizabeth Bland was an Englishwoman celebrated for her knowledge of Hebrew.Bland was the daughter and heiress of Robert Fisher, of Long Acre, and was born about the time of the Restoration. Her Hebrew teacher is said to have been Francis van Helmont, commonly known as Baron van Helmont. She was...
, married name 'Elizabeth BlandElizabeth BlandElizabeth Bland was an Englishwoman celebrated for her knowledge of Hebrew.Bland was the daughter and heiress of Robert Fisher, of Long Acre, and was born about the time of the Restoration. Her Hebrew teacher is said to have been Francis van Helmont, commonly known as Baron van Helmont. She was...
' (b. c.1660, d. in or after 1712?), Hebraist - Joanna Fitzalan (Jane LumleyJane LumleyJane , Lady Lumley was the first person to translate Euripides into English. She was the eldest child of Henry Fitzalan, 19th Earl of Arundel , patron of the arts, and his first wife, Katherine Grey Fitzalan...
), classicist - Mary FitzalanMary FitzAlanLady Mary FitzAlan, Duchess of Norfolk was the youngest daughter and child of Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel and his first wife Lady Catherine Grey. Because her only brother had predeceased her, she and her elder sister, Jane FitzAlan were co-heiresses to the earldom of her father...
, Countess of Arundel (born Mary ArundellMary Arundell (courtier)Mary Arundell , was a courtier and was previously reputed to be a translator.Arundell was the daughter of Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, knight-banneret of Therouenne, and his second wife Catherine, daughter of Sir Thomas Grenville of Stow...
; also Mary Ratcliffe; 'Mary Countess of Arundel') (d. 1557) - Mary Howard, duchess of Norfolk ('Lady Mary Howard') (1539/40–1557)
- Frances Freke, married name Frances, Lady Norton, 'Lady Norton' (1640–1731), writer
- Margaret Giggs, later 'Margaret ClementMargaret ClementMargaret Clement or Clements , nee Giggs was one of the most learned ladies of the Tudor era and the adopted daughter of Sir Thomas More....
' (1508–1570), niece and adopted daughter of Sir Thomas More - 'Constantia GriersonConstantia GriersonConstantia Grierson [née Crawley] , was an editor, poet, and classical scholar from County Kilkenny, Ireland.- Life :...
', née Crawley (c. 1706-1733), classicist - Anne HalkettAnne HalkettLady Anne Halkett was a religious writer and autobiographer.-Early life:Halkett's father Thomas Murray was tutor to King James I's children. He later became Provost of Eton College. Her mother was governess to the king's children. When Thomas Murray died, Halkett was educated by her mother...
, née Murray, royalist & writer - 'Susanna Hopton', née Susanna Harvey (1627–1709), religious writer
- Margaret Howe, married name 'Margaret Ascham', literary editor, wife of Roger AschamRoger AschamRoger Ascham was an English scholar and didactic writer, famous for his prose style, his promotion of the vernacular, and his theories of education...
- Lady Jane Howard, married name Lady Jane Neville, 'Jane Countess of Westmorland' (1537–1593), noblewoman
- 'Esther InglisEsther InglisEsther Inglis was a Scottish miniaturist, embroiderer, calligrapher, translator and writer. Of Huguenot origin , her family had escaped to Scotland to escape persecution...
' or Esther Langlois, married name Esther Kello (1570/71-1624), calligrapher & miniaturist - Lady Jane GreyLady Jane GreyLady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
('Lady Jane Gray') (1537–1554) - Julian of NorwichJulian of NorwichJulian of Norwich is regarded as one of the most important English mystics. She is venerated in the Anglican and Lutheran churches, but has never been canonized, or officially beatified, by the Catholic Church, probably because so little is known of her life aside from her writings, including the...
('Juliana, Anchoret of Norwich') (1343–1443), anchorite & writer - 'Margery KempeMargery KempeMargery Kempe is known for dictating The Book of Margery Kempe, a work considered by some to be the first autobiography in the English language. This book chronicles, to some extent, her extensive pilgrimages to various holy sites in Europe and Asia, as well as her mystical conversations with God...
' (c.1373-c.1440), religious writer - 'Anne KilligrewAnne KilligrewAnne Killigrew was an English poet. Born in London, Killigrew is perhaps best known as the subject of a famous elegy by the poet John Dryden entitled To The Pious Memory of the Accomplish'd Young Lady Mrs. Anne Killigrew . She was however a skilful poet in her own right, and her Poems were...
' (1660–1685), poet & painter - Elizabeth Knevitt, Countess of Lincoln, married name Elizabeth ClintonElizabeth BlountElizabeth Blount , who was better known by her nickname of "Bessie", was a mistress of Henry VIII of England.-Early life:She was the daughter of Sir John Blount and Catherine Pershall, of Kinlet, Bridgnorth, Shropshire...
, 'Elizabeth Countess of Lincoln' (1574?–1630?), noblewoman & writer - Elizabeth LawrenceElizabeth Bury-Early Life:Bury was baptised 12 March 1644 at Clare, Suffolk, the day of her birth having probably been 2 March. Her father was Captain Adams Lawrence of Linton, Cambridgeshire; her mother was Elizabeth Cutts of Clare, and besides Elizabeth there were three other children. In 1648, when Elizabeth...
, married name 'Elizabeth BuryElizabeth Bury-Early Life:Bury was baptised 12 March 1644 at Clare, Suffolk, the day of her birth having probably been 2 March. Her father was Captain Adams Lawrence of Linton, Cambridgeshire; her mother was Elizabeth Cutts of Clare, and besides Elizabeth there were three other children. In 1648, when Elizabeth...
' (1644–1720), nonconformist - Anne LeeAnne WhartonAnne Wharton, née Lee was an English poet and verse dramatist.-Life:...
, married name 'Anne WhartonAnne WhartonAnne Wharton, née Lee was an English poet and verse dramatist.-Life:...
' (1659–1685), poet - Mary LeeLady Mary ChudleighMary Chudleigh was part of an intellectual circle that included Mary Astell, Elizabeth Thomas, Judith Drake, Elizabeth Elstob, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, and John Norris...
, 'Lady Chudleigh' (1656–1710), writer - 'Elizabeth Legge' (1580–1685), linguist & poet
- 'Elizabeth LucarElizabeth LucarElizabeth Lucar , was an English calligrapher.Lucar, born in London, was multi-talented. She was the author of Curious Calligraphy the first English essay on calligraphy, she was also fluent in Latin, Spanish, and Italian, and an accomplished musician and needleworker.She died in London and is...
' (Elizabeth Withypoll), calligrapher - Margaret Lucas, 'Margaret Duchess of Newcastle' (c. 1624-1674), writer and biographer
- Mary I, Queen of England and IrelandMary I of EnglandMary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
('Queen Mary') (1516–1688) - 'Mary Queen of Scotland' (1542–1587)
- Mary Molesworth, 'Honorable Mrs. Monk' (d. 1715), poet
- Cecilia More ('Cecilia Heron'), Latinist & daughter of Thomas MoreThomas MoreSir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor...
- Elizabeth More, married name 'Elizabeth Dancy', daughter of Thomas MoreThomas MoreSir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor...
- 'Honorable Mrs Dudleya North' (1675–1712), orientalist linguist
- Grace Norton, Grace Lady Gethin, 'Lady Gethin' (1676–1697), essayist & learned woman
- 'Lady Pakington'Dorothy, Lady PakingtonDorothy, Lady Pakington was an English friend and supporter of learned clergymen, and a writer of religious works.-Biography:...
, Dorothy Coventry, (d. 1679), writer - 'Blanch Parry' (1507/1508-1589), antiquary
- 'Katherine PhilipsKatherine PhilipsKatherine Philips was an Anglo-Welsh poet.-Biography:Katherine Philips was the first Englishwoman to enjoy widespread public acclaim as a poet during her lifetime. Born in London, she was daughter of John Fowler, a Presbyterian, and a merchant of Bucklersbury, London. Philips is said to have read...
', née Fowler (1631–1684), poet - Catherina or Catherine Riches, married name Catherina BoeveyCatherina Boevey-Life:Catherina was born in London in 1669; her father was John Riches, a wealthy merchant originally of Amsterdam, her mother was a daughter of Sir Bernard de Gomme, also of Holland, surveyor of ordnance to Charles II, and delineator of the maps of Naseby, &c. Catharina was a great beauty. In The...
or 'Catherine Bovey' (d. 1726), philanthropist - 'Margaret RoperMargaret RoperMargaret Roper was an English writer and translator. She was the daughter of Thomas More and wife of William Roper. During More's imprisonment in the Tower of London, she was a frequent visitor to his cell, along with her husband.Roper married William Roper in 1521 in Eltham, Kent...
', née More (1505–1544), scholar & daughter of Thomas MoreThomas MoreSir Thomas More , also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII of England and, for three years toward the end of his life, Lord Chancellor... - 'Mary Roper', married name Mary Bassett (d. 1572), classicist
- Elizabeth Sadler, married name 'Elizabeth Walker' (1623–1690), autobiographer & religious writer
- 'Lady Anne Seymour', married name Anne Dudley, Countess of Warwick (1538–1587), poet
- 'Lady Jane Seymour' (1541–1561), poet
- 'Lady Margaret Seymour' (b. 1540), poet
- Mary SidneyMary SidneyMary Herbert , Countess of Pembroke , was one of the first English women to achieve a major reputation for her literary works, poetry, poetic translations and literary patronage.-Family:...
, married name Mary Herbert, 'Mary Countess of Pembroke' (1561–1621), poet & sister of Sir Philip Sidney - Arbella StuartArbella StuartLady Arbella Stuart was an English Renaissance noblewoman who was for some time considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I on the English throne....
, 'Lady Arabella Seymour' (1575–1615), royal heiress - 'Catherine Tishem'or Catherine Thysmans, scholar, mother of Jan GruterJan GruterJan Gruter was a Dutch critic and scholar.-Life:Jan Gruter was Dutch on his father's side and English on his mother's, and was born at Antwerp...
- Lady Eleanor Touchet, 'Lady Eleanor Davies' (1590–1652), prophetess, married to John Davies (poet)John Davies (poet)Sir John Davies was an English poet and lawyer, who became attorney general in Ireland and formulated many of the legal principles that underpinned the British Empire.-Early life:...
- 'Elizabeth Jane WestonElizabeth Jane WestonElizabeth Jane Weston was mostly known for her Neo-Latin poetry, and she had the unusual distinction for a woman of that time of having her poetry published. The full works, published in two volumes in 1608, were entitled Parthenica...
' (bap. 1581?, d. 1612), scholar & linguist