A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography

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A Cyclopædia of Female Biography (1857)
edited by Henry Gardiner Adams

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2910744A Cyclopædia of Female Biography1857Henry Gardiner Adams

A

CYCLOPÆDIA

OF

FEMALE BIOGRAPHY

Consisting of

SKETCHES OF ALL WOMEN

WHO HAVE BEEN DISTINGUISHED BY

GREAT TALENTS, STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, PIETY,

BENEVOLENCE, OR MORAL VIRTUE OF ANY KIND.

Edited by H. G. Adams.

LONDON.

GROOMSBRIDGE AND SONS.

1857.

A

CYCLOPÆDIA

OF

FEMALE BIOGRAPHY;

CONSISTING OF

SKETCHES OF ALL WOMEN

WHO HAVE BEEN DISTINGUISHED BY

GREAT TALENTS, STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, PIETY,

BENEVOLENCE, OR MORAL VIRTUE OF ANY KIND;

FORMING A COMPLETE RECORD OF

WOMANLY EXCELLENCE OR ABILITY.

EDITED BY H. G. ADAMS,

Editor of the "Cyclopedia of Poetical Quotations" &c.

"O fairest of creation, last arid best
Of all God's works, creature in whom excell'd
Whatever can to sight or thought be form'd.
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!"

Milton.

LONDON:

GROOMBRIDGE AND SONS, 6, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1857.

PREFACE.

In the volume here presented, we have endeavoured to supply what we consider to have been hitherto a desideratum in literature—a cheap and portable volume, containing the name and such of the most important particulars of the life and character, as could be obtained from trustworthy sources, of every woman remarkable for mental gifts or acquirements, moral virtues, or christian graces, of whom history makes mention, or the less ambitious annals of private life present. Such a complete record of womanly excellence and ability cannot fail of being highly interesting and useful; and it must be evident to all that the task of its compilation must have been one of great labour and research; far more indeed than the present Editor can claim credit for;—his work having been chiefly that of condensation from a large and costly volume published in America, and entitled "Woman's Record," by Mrs. Hale, who states in her preface that it cost her three years of hard study and labour.

The pith and substance of that volume—itself a striking example of female ability in authorship—is here presented to English readers, with such alterations and additions as the Editor considered it desirable to make. Many new biographies have been added, and those written by Mrs. Hale and her coadjutors carefully revised. Some have been altogether omitted, as referring to persons who possessed little or no claim to a place in a collection of Female Worthies. Great care has been taken to verify the dates and facts already given, and to insert only such fresh ones as good authorities would furnish; and no pains have been spared to make the work as perfect and correct as possible. With all care that could be taken, however, it is to be expected that some errors will have crept in, and the Editor will feel obliged, if such of his readers as may detect any, will kindly point them out, that they may be corrected in subsequent editions of the work, which, in its alphabetical mode of arrangement, style, and price, is exactly uniform with others of the series of Cyclopædias now in course of publication; those already issued being "The Cyclopædia of Poetical Quotations," and "The Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations."

Rochester, August, 1857.

Biographies (not listed in original)

Table of contents

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Addenda

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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