Hannah More (1745 – 1833)

More was born in Bristol. As a young woman she was lucky enough to receive a formal education – initially from her father, who was a schoolmaster. She went on to run a successful school for young women in Bristol, along with her four sisters. Here she wrote plays for school performances, which brought her to the attention of influential members of the literary and theatre worlds such as Samuel Johnson and David Garrick. She then pursued her own very successful literary career in London, where she joined the Bluestockings, a pioneering intellectual society founded by women.

Towards the end of the 1700s, More became an important contributor to the British movement to abolish the Transatlantic Slave Trade, using her writing ability to help influence public opinion. In 1788, she wrote ‘Slavery, a poem’ in support of the parliamentary campaign to abolish the Slave Trade, led by her close friend William Wilberforce. By the 1790s, she had become deeply involved in the Abolition campaign with a group known as the Clapham Sect. She helped to give the movement a voice and to garner support among influential members of society, producing pamphlets and organising sugar boycotts.

More’s activism also included campaigns for the education and welfare of the poor, funded with her own money, earned through her writing. Encouraged by Wilberforce, she established 12 schools across Somerset and set up friendly societies for women’s welfare.

Despite this activity in support of revolutionary social reform, More also supported the reaction against the radical ideas of the French Revolution. She wrote about this in her very successful publication ‘Village Politics’, and in a further fifty texts which sold millions of copies. And, while her later writings advocated female education, she was in favour of only limited public roles for women in society – despite her own status and activism. These opinions became highly unfashionable as the campaign for women’s rights developed.

More continued to support the cause for Abolition and lived just long enough to see an end to British involvement in Transatlantic Slavery, in 1833. Often depicted in her old age, this painting by Frances Reynolds (sister of Joshua Reynolds) portrays the younger, Bluestocking Hannah More.

Did you know?

Hannah More nearly died in 1818 when flames from her fireplace set her clothes alight. She was saved by the quick thinking of a house guest who rolled her on the floor until the flames were put out. The accident was featured in many newspapers, who highlighted the importance of fireguards to protect against accidents with long skirts.

Use our Education activities to investigate this object and the themes of Abolition and Arts in the Age of Revolution further.

Highlights:

• Using objects, artworks and other sources to find out about the past
• Enquiry: Who fought for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade and what were some of the tactics they used?
• Enquiry: Innovations and the spread of ideas
• Twitter campaigns

And much more…

Information written by Jo Edwards

@HannahMoreSoc