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Elizabeth Carter
(December 16, 1717 - February 19, 1806) U.K.

Elizabeth Carter

Greek scholar and poet

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Born in Deal, Kent, Elizabeth Carter was the oldest child of Rev. Nicolas Carter, perpetual curate of Deal, and his first wife Margaret, only daughter and heir of Richard Swayne of Bere Regis, Dorset, who died when Elizabeth was ten. Her redbrick family home can still be seen at the junction of South Street and Middle Street, close to the seafront. Encouraged by her father to study, she mastered several modern and ancient languages (including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic) and science.

A noted member of the Blue Stoking Circle. Dr. Johnson thought her one of the best Greek scholars he had known. In 1738 she published her early poems, and Johnson, as a high honour, invited her to contribute to The Rambler. Her translation of Epictetus (1758) gained her an European reputation.

February 1741 saw the beginning of her lifelong friendship with Catherine Talbot, an English author. The two women carried on a lively and copious correspondence. In 1760 Catherine Talbot, accompanied by Elizabeth Carter, went to Bristol for her health. The two women moved from Lambeth Palace to Lower Grosvenor Street. There Catherine died of cancer on January 9, 1770, aged 48. At her daughter's death in 1770, Mrs. Talbot put her daughter's manuscripts into Elizabeth Carter's hand, leaving their publication to her discretion. They lived together from 1741 to 1770: 29 years.

Elizabeth Carter
Elizabeth Carter as Minerva, goddess of wisdom, by John Fayram

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Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/ - https://www.goodreads.com/

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