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Catherine Eliza Richardson

January 01, 1970

Catherine Eliza Richardson (née Scott 24 November 1777 – 9 October 1853; often called Caroline Eliza Richardson,[n 1] and published as Mrs. G. G. Richardson) was a Scottish author and poet who published a four-volume novel and three collections of verse.

Catherine Eliza Richardson
Portrait of Catherine Eliza Richardson
Born(1777-11-24)24 November 1777
Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Died9 October 1853(1853-10-09) (aged 75)
Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
OccupationNovelist
SpouseGilbert Geddes Richardson (m. 1799)
Children5

Biography edit

Catherine Eliza Richardson was born in 1777 to Phoebe Scott (née Dixon) and James Scott, a landowner of considerable property and Justice of the peace in the Scottish borders village of Canonbie, Dumfriesshire. She is described being 'born into favourable circumstances' as one of a 'numerous family of brothers and sisters', of 'educated and intellectual' parents.[1]

Her childhood was spent in the borders, but in 1799 she travelled to India,[2] where on 29 April at Fort George, Madras she married her cousin Gilbert Geddes Richardson, a mariner, captain of an East Indiaman and partner in a trading house, Colt, Baker, Hart & Co.[3] Her connection with India is specified as her uncle, 'General, afterwards Lord Harris'.[1][n 2]

She quickly had five children with Gilbert;[1] he is recorded as having died on 30 August 1805.[3] She returned from India to Canonbie to raise her young children, but moved to London during their teenage years, returning once more to Canonbie in 1821, where she remained until her death on 9 October 1853.[1][n 3]

Richardson was an intimate of Thomas Carlyle, who in his Reminiscences remarks on her as 'poor and hospitable Mrs. Richardson, once a "novelist" of mark, much of a gentlewoman and loved by us both.'[4][5]

Works edit

Richardson's first-published work is thought to be the 1801 four-volume novel Adonia - A Desultory Story; her authorship rests on strong circumstantial evidence - the published volumes omits the author's name.[2][n 4]

She published poems in a short-lived London Weekly Review (LWR) periodical edited by David Lester Richardson in the 1827-29 period, and he is supposed to have encouraged her to publish collections on her own account.[2] Henry Colburn's The New Monthly Magazine, in a review of Poems, speculated that the two were related;[6] David Richardson was an East India Company officer, on furlough to the UK during the LWR period.[7]

In 1828 she published a first collection, Poems, by private subscription running to 1,700 copies.[2] It was reviewed with considerable scorn in The Edinburgh Literary Journal: 'How Mrs. G. G. Richardson took it into her head to publish a volume of "Poems" is a good deal more than we can understand...';[8] and more blandly in The Athenaeum as a work of 'chasteness ... of thought and language, pleasing and appropriate similes, natural metaphors and very gentle pathos ... [with] a vein of melancholy running through the whole.'[9] Poems was reprinted in 1828 and a third edition published in 1829;[2] a review of the third in The Imperial Magazine remarked on the number of reprints. It characterised the subject-matter as 'local, circumscribed and domestic' and 'not of the highest order', but found that 'excellencies of a more exalted order occasionally burst upon us', which 'compensate for obvious deficiencies' and render the work 'in an unquestionably respectable light.[10]

Richardson next published Poems: Second Series in 1834.[2] A review in The Metropolitan found them 'above the common-place' and 'with considerable humour', but 'unequal within themselves', having blemishes or faults which detract from first impressions.[11] The New Monthly Magazine received the second series with high praise: 'full of poetic gems' each without exception showing 'evidence of an elegant and highly cultivated mind'.[12] A third set of poems, Grandmamma's Sampler; with some other Rhymes for Children was published in 1836.[2]

Chambers's Journal commented in 1876 that Richardson was in the class of 'forgotten or little known poets', and opines that her work 'is not characterised by striking originality of thought', but 'clear and pure, sometimes sparking, more frequently soft and gentle'. The article notes that she continued to write poetry during the latter years of her life, as well as stories, some of which were published.[13]

Summary of works edit

  • Adonia (1801)
    • Volume I
    • Volume II
    • Volume III
    • Volume IV
  • Poems (1828)
  • Poems: Second Series (1834)
  • Grandmamma's Sampler; with some other Rhymes for Children (1836)

Notes edit

  1. ^ A blog post for a University of Victoria English class, citing birth and baptism registries, suggests that her given name was Catherine not Caroline, and asserts the use of the latter rests on a mistake made by Mrs. MacArthur, a relative, who supplied the biography used in The Scottish Minstrel and relied upon by subsequent biographers. Richardson's published work was anonymous, initialled (C.E.R.; C.E.; or R.), or as Mrs. G. G. Richardson. Scottish Women Poets - Mrs. G. G. Richardson (1777-1853). The ODNB concurs in its use of Catherine.
  2. ^ George Harris, 1st Baron Harris fits the description of a General, later elevated to the peerage, active in Madras in 1799, but his connection with the Scottish Richardson family is unclear.
  3. ^ Jackson in the ODNB specifies that she returned to England with three of her children; Mrs. MacArthur specifies she had five children, all of whom survived her.
  4. ^ Mrs. MacArthur suggests that Richardson wrote a three-volume novel, Adonia in the 1820s or 1830s; Frank Miller's The poets of Dumfriesshire (1910) repeats this assertion.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d MacArthur, Mrs (1870). Rogers, Charles (ed.). The Scottish Minstrel: The Songs of Scotland Subsequent to Burns with Memoirs of the Poets. Edinburgh: William P. Nimmo. pp. 177–179.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Jackson, J. R. de J. "Richardson [née Scott], Catherine Eliza (1777–1853), poet and novelist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/23545. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ a b Campbell, Lawrence Dundas (1809). "Deaths". The Asiatic Annual Register. J. Debrett: 185.
  4. ^ Miller, Frank (1910). The Poets of Dumfriesshire. Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. p. 265.
  5. ^ Carlyle, Thomas (1881). Froude, James Anthony (ed.). Reminiscences by Thomas Carlyle. New York: Harper and Brothers. p. 238.
  6. ^ "Poems by Mrs. G. G. Richardson, Dumfries". The New Monthly Magazine. 1928.
  7. ^ "Biographical Sketches No.1 - D.L.R". Calcutta Monthly Journal. For the year 1838: 1–16. 1839.
  8. ^ "Mrs. G. G. Richardson of Dumfries". The Edinburgh Literary Journal. 1: 120. 1829.
  9. ^ "Mrs. G. G. Richardson's Poems". The Athenaeum. 1: 36–37. 1828.
  10. ^ Drew, Samuel (1929). "Review.- Poems by Mrs. G. G. Richardson, Dumfries. 8vo. pp.250 Simkin London 1829". The Imperial Magazine. 11.
  11. ^ Cochrane, James (1834). "Notices of New works - Poems by Mrs. G. G. Richardson". The Metropolitan. 11: 123.
  12. ^ "Critical Notices - Mrs. G. G. Richardson - Second Series". The New Monthly Magazine. Part the First: 108–109. 1835.
  13. ^ "The Poems of Mrs. G. G. Richardson". Chambers' Journal. 4. 13: 607–609. 16 September 1876.

External links edit

  Works by or about Catherine Eliza Richardson at Wikisource

January 01, 1970
catherine, eliza, richardson, née, scott, november, 1777, october, 1853, often, called, caroline, eliza, richardson, published, richardson, scottish, author, poet, published, four, volume, novel, three, collections, verse, portrait, born, 1777, november, 1777c. Catherine Eliza Richardson nee Scott 24 November 1777 9 October 1853 often called Caroline Eliza Richardson n 1 and published as Mrs G G Richardson was a Scottish author and poet who published a four volume novel and three collections of verse Catherine Eliza RichardsonPortrait of Catherine Eliza RichardsonBorn 1777 11 24 24 November 1777Canonbie Dumfriesshire ScotlandDied9 October 1853 1853 10 09 aged 75 Canonbie Dumfriesshire ScotlandOccupationNovelistSpouseGilbert Geddes Richardson m 1799 Children5 Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 2 1 Summary of works 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography editCatherine Eliza Richardson was born in 1777 to Phoebe Scott nee Dixon and James Scott a landowner of considerable property and Justice of the peace in the Scottish borders village of Canonbie Dumfriesshire She is described being born into favourable circumstances as one of a numerous family of brothers and sisters of educated and intellectual parents 1 Her childhood was spent in the borders but in 1799 she travelled to India 2 where on 29 April at Fort George Madras she married her cousin Gilbert Geddes Richardson a mariner captain of an East Indiaman and partner in a trading house Colt Baker Hart amp Co 3 Her connection with India is specified as her uncle General afterwards Lord Harris 1 n 2 She quickly had five children with Gilbert 1 he is recorded as having died on 30 August 1805 3 She returned from India to Canonbie to raise her young children but moved to London during their teenage years returning once more to Canonbie in 1821 where she remained until her death on 9 October 1853 1 n 3 Richardson was an intimate of Thomas Carlyle who in his Reminiscences remarks on her as poor and hospitable Mrs Richardson once a novelist of mark much of a gentlewoman and loved by us both 4 5 Works editRichardson s first published work is thought to be the 1801 four volume novel Adonia A Desultory Story her authorship rests on strong circumstantial evidence the published volumes omits the author s name 2 n 4 She published poems in a short lived London Weekly Review LWR periodical edited by David Lester Richardson in the 1827 29 period and he is supposed to have encouraged her to publish collections on her own account 2 Henry Colburn s The New Monthly Magazine in a review of Poems speculated that the two were related 6 David Richardson was an East India Company officer on furlough to the UK during the LWR period 7 In 1828 she published a first collection Poems by private subscription running to 1 700 copies 2 It was reviewed with considerable scorn in The Edinburgh Literary Journal How Mrs G G Richardson took it into her head to publish a volume of Poems is a good deal more than we can understand 8 and more blandly in The Athenaeum as a work of chasteness of thought and language pleasing and appropriate similes natural metaphors and very gentle pathos with a vein of melancholy running through the whole 9 Poems was reprinted in 1828 and a third edition published in 1829 2 a review of the third in The Imperial Magazine remarked on the number of reprints It characterised the subject matter as local circumscribed and domestic and not of the highest order but found that excellencies of a more exalted order occasionally burst upon us which compensate for obvious deficiencies and render the work in an unquestionably respectable light 10 Richardson next published Poems Second Series in 1834 2 A review in The Metropolitan found them above the common place and with considerable humour but unequal within themselves having blemishes or faults which detract from first impressions 11 The New Monthly Magazine received the second series with high praise full of poetic gems each without exception showing evidence of an elegant and highly cultivated mind 12 A third set of poems Grandmamma s Sampler with some other Rhymes for Children was published in 1836 2 Chambers s Journal commented in 1876 that Richardson was in the class of forgotten or little known poets and opines that her work is not characterised by striking originality of thought but clear and pure sometimes sparking more frequently soft and gentle The article notes that she continued to write poetry during the latter years of her life as well as stories some of which were published 13 Summary of works edit Adonia 1801 Volume I Volume II Volume III Volume IV Poems 1828 Poems Second Series 1834 Grandmamma s Sampler with some other Rhymes for Children 1836 Notes edit A blog post for a University of Victoria English class citing birth and baptism registries suggests that her given name was Catherine not Caroline and asserts the use of the latter rests on a mistake made by Mrs MacArthur a relative who supplied the biography used in The Scottish Minstrel and relied upon by subsequent biographers Richardson s published work was anonymous initialled C E R C E or R or as Mrs G G Richardson Scottish Women Poets Mrs G G Richardson 1777 1853 The ODNB concurs in its use of Catherine George Harris 1st Baron Harris fits the description of a General later elevated to the peerage active in Madras in 1799 but his connection with the Scottish Richardson family is unclear Jackson in the ODNB specifies that she returned to England with three of her children Mrs MacArthur specifies she had five children all of whom survived her Mrs MacArthur suggests that Richardson wrote a three volume novel Adonia in the 1820s or 1830s Frank Miller s The poets of Dumfriesshire 1910 repeats this assertion References edit a b c d MacArthur Mrs 1870 Rogers Charles ed The Scottish Minstrel The Songs of Scotland Subsequent to Burns with Memoirs of the Poets Edinburgh William P Nimmo pp 177 179 a b c d e f g Jackson J R de J Richardson nee Scott Catherine Eliza 1777 1853 poet and novelist Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 23545 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b Campbell Lawrence Dundas 1809 Deaths The Asiatic Annual Register J Debrett 185 Miller Frank 1910 The Poets of Dumfriesshire Glasgow James Maclehose and Sons p 265 Carlyle Thomas 1881 Froude James Anthony ed Reminiscences by Thomas Carlyle New York Harper and Brothers p 238 Poems by Mrs G G Richardson Dumfries The New Monthly Magazine 1928 Biographical Sketches No 1 D L R Calcutta Monthly Journal For the year 1838 1 16 1839 Mrs G G Richardson of Dumfries The Edinburgh Literary Journal 1 120 1829 Mrs G G Richardson s Poems The Athenaeum 1 36 37 1828 Drew Samuel 1929 Review Poems by Mrs G G Richardson Dumfries 8vo pp 250 Simkin London 1829 The Imperial Magazine 11 Cochrane James 1834 Notices of New works Poems by Mrs G G Richardson The Metropolitan 11 123 Critical Notices Mrs G G Richardson Second Series The New Monthly Magazine Part the First 108 109 1835 The Poems of Mrs G G Richardson Chambers Journal 4 13 607 609 16 September 1876 External links edit nbsp Works by or about Catherine Eliza Richardson at Wikisource Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catherine Eliza Richardson amp oldid 1164654096, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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