List of women in Female Biography
Female biography was identified and named by Mary Hays (1759–1843) as a discrete empirical category of knowledge production and analysis while researching figures for the first Enlightenment prosopography of women, Female Biography; Or, memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women, of all Ages and Countries (R. Phillips, 1803) in six volumes.
The first American edition came in 1807, arranged as three volumes and with minor typographical corrections (Birch & Small, Philadelphia). A new version of the encyclopedia was published again in six volumes in 2013 and 2014, as part of The Chawton House Library Series Memoirs of Women Writers (Part II: volumes 5–7; Part III, volumes 8–10; Pickering & Chatto, London). The Chawton House Library Edition (or CHLE) was edited by Gina Luria Walker, produced by a collaborative of contemporary scholars representing over 100 institutions in 18 countries and four continents, and contains new annotations and research that contextualize Hays's original sources of information.
This list of women collects all 300 figures included in Female Biography. Approximately 100 of the subjects listed here were also included in Judy Chicago's 1979 art installation The Dinner Party, either with a place setting at the table or with a ceramic tile in the Heritage Floor.
The names in the list below appear as they were spelled and alphabetized by Hays for the original publication. Hays grouped some subjects together in a single entry (resulting in a total count of 294 entries, but 300 subjects), indicated below with asterisks, all of which have been separately identified by scholars working on the modern edition.
Name | Image | Dates | Origin | Notes | 1803 Vol. | CHLE Vol. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbasa (confused with her sister, Ulayya) | 9th century BCE | Arab | Abbasid princess and poet | 1 | 5 | |
Adricomia (Cornelia Adrichomia) | 16th century | Dutch | Nun, Poet | 1 | 5 | |
Agnes Sorrel, or Sorreille | ![]() |
1421–1450 | French | Mistress to King Charles VII of France | 1 | 5 |
Agreda, Mary de | ![]() |
1602–1665 | Spanish | Ecstatic Nun, Mystic | 1 | 5 |
Agrippina the Elder | ![]() |
1st century | Roman | Roman Noblewoman | 1 | 5 |
Agrippina the Younger | 1st century | Roman | Roman Empress | 1 | 5 | |
Albert, Jane, d’ (Jeanne d'Albret) | 16th century | French | Queen, writer, poet, French Huguenot protectress | 1 | 5 | |
Aldrude, Countess of Bertinoro | 12th century | Italian | Countess, Led troops to battle | 1 | 5 | |
Aloysia Sigea, of Toledo (Luisa) | 1522–1560 | Spanish | Poet, Major figure of Spanish Humanism | 1 | 5 | |
Amalasenta | 6th century | Roman | Ostrogoth Princess, Queen Regent | 1 | 5 | |
Amboise, Frances d’ | 15th century | French | Carmelite nun | 1 | 5 | |
Ammannati, Laura Battiferri | 1523–1589 | Italian | Poet | 1 | 5 | |
Andreini, Isabella | ![]() |
1562–1604 | Italian | Actress, Writer | 1 | 5 |
Anjou, Margaret of | 1430–1482 | French | Royal consort | 1 | 5 | |
Anne of Austria | 1601–1666 | Spanish | Princess | 1 | 5 | |
Anne of Beaujeu | 1461–1522 | French | Princess and Regent | 1 | 5 | |
Anne of Bretagne | 1477–1514 | French | Queen, patron of the arts | 1 | 5 | |
Anonymous: Bettina d'Andrea* | ?–1335 | Italian | Professor of Law and Philosophy | 3 | 7 | |
Anonymous: Bettisia Gozzadini* | 1209–1260 | Italian | Professor of Law | 3 | 7 | |
Anonymous: Dorotea Bocchi* | 1360–1436 | Italian | Physician | 3 | 7 | |
Anonymous: Laura Bassi* | 1711–1778 | Italian | Professor of Anatomy, Philosophy and Experimental Physics | 3 | 7 | |
Anonymous: Maddalena Bonsignori* | 14th century | Italian | Professor of Law | 3 | 7 | |
Anonymous: Novella d'Andrea* | 14th century | Italian | Professor of Law | 3 | 7 | |
Antonia | 36 BCE – 37 CE | Roman | Roman Noblewoman | 1 | 5 | |
Aragon, Isabella of | 1470–1524 | Italian | Princess | 1 | 5 | |
Aragon, Joan of (Joanna of Castile?) | 1502–1575 | Italian | Queen regent | 1 | 5 | |
Aragon, Tullia of | 1510–1556 | Italian | Courtesan, writer, philosopher | 1 | 5 | |
Arc, Joan d', Maid of Orleans | 1412–1431 | French | Soldier | 1 | 5 | |
Aretaphila | 2nd century BCE | Miscellaneous | Cyrenean Noblewoman | 1 | 5 | |
Arete (of Cyrene) | 4th century | Greek | Philosopher | 1 | 5 | |
Argentaria, Polla | 1st century | Roman | Roman Noblewoman | 1 | 5 | |
Armyne, Lady Mary | 17th century | English | Benefactress | 1 | 5 | |
Arnaude de Rocas | 16th century | Greek | Martyr | 1 | 5 | |
Arnauld, Angelique (Angélique de Saint-Jean Arnauld d'Andilly) | 1624–1684 | French | Nun, writer | 1 | 5 | |
Arnauld, Catherine Agnes (Jeanne-Catherine-Agnès Arnauld) | 1593–1672 | French | Abbess | 1 | 5 | |
Arnauld, Mary Angelique (Jacqueline-Marie-Angélique Arnauld) | 1591–1661 | French | Abbess | 1 | 5 | |
Arria | 1st century CE | Roman | Roman Noblewoman | 1 | 5 | |
Artemisia Gentileschi | 1593–1652 | Italian | Painter | 1 | 5 | |
Artemesia I | 5th century BCE | Greek | Carian Queen | 1 | 5 | |
Artemesia wife of Mausolus (Artemisia II of Caria) | 4th century BCE | Greek | Carian Queen | 1 | 5 | |
Arundel, Mary Countess of | 16th century | English | Translations | 1 | 5 | |
Arundell, Blanche Lady | 1583–1649 | English | Defended Wardour Castle | 1 | 5 | |
Ascham, Margaret | 16th century | English | Writer | 1 | 5 | |
Askew, Anne | 1521–1546 | English | Poet, Protestant Martyr | 1 | 5 | |
Aspasia | 5th century BCE | Greek | Courtesan, Intellectual | 1 | 5 | |
Aspasia or Milto | 421–? BCE | Greek | Mistress of Cyrus | 1 | 5 | |
Astell, Mary | 1688–1731 | English | Writer | 1 | 5 | |
Athenais | c. 401–460 | Greek | Empress | 1 | 5 | |
Aubespine, Madeleine de l’ | ?–1596 | French | Poet, translations | 1 | 5 | |
Bacon, Lady (Ann) | 1528–1610 | English | Translations | 1 | 5 | |
Barbier, Mary Anne | ?–1745 | French | Writer, playwright, poet | 1 | 5 | |
Baroni, Leonora | 1611–1670 | Italian | Singer, musician, composer | 1 | 5 | |
Basine, or Bazine | 5th century | German | Queen | 1 | 5 | |
Bavaria, Isabella of | 1370–1435 | Bavarian / French | Queen consort | 1 | 5 | |
Baynard, Anne | 1672–1697 | English | Natural Philosopher | 1 | 5 | |
Beale, Mary | 1632–1697 | English | Painter | 1 | 5 | |
Beaufort, Joan, Queen of Scotland | 1st century | English | Queen Consort | 1 | 5 | |
Beaufort, Margaret | 1433–1509 | English | King Henry VII, Benefactress | 1 | 5 | |
Bectoz, Claude de | ?–1547 | French | Abbess, poet | 1 | 5 | |
Behn, Mrs. | ![]() |
c. 1640–1689 | English | Writer, playwright, poet | 1 | 5 |
Bendish, Bridget | 1650–1726 | English | Granddaughter to Oliver Cromwell | 1 | 5 | |
Berenice (daughter of Herod of Agrippa) | 1st century BCE – 1st century CE | Roman | Judean princess | 1 | 5 | |
Bernard, Catherine | ?–1712 | French | Writer, playwright, poet | 1 | 5 | |
Berners or Barnes, Juliana | 14th century | English | Abbess, writer | 1 | 5 | |
Berneuille, Maria Catherina le Jumel de, Countess d'Aulnoy | 1650–1705 | French | Writer | 1 | 5 | |
Bertaut, Frances (Françoise), Madame de Motteville | 1621–1689 | French | Memoir writer | 1 | 5 | |
Blanche of Castile | 13th century | French | Queen, Regent | 1 | 5 | |
Bland, Elizabeth | 17th – 18th century | English | Hebrew Scholar | 2 | 6 | |
Boadicea (Boudica), Queen of the Britons | 1st century | English | Queen | 2 | 6 | |
Bohemia, Elizabeth Frederica of | 1618–1680 | Queen | 1 | 5 | ||
Boleyn, Anne | 1507–1536 | English | Queen, poet | 2 | 6 | |
Bontems, Madame | 1718–1768 | French | Translations | 2 | 6 | |
Bourbon, Henrietta of (Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier) | 1627–1693 | French | Princess, memoirist | 1 | 5 | |
Bourges, Clemence de | 16th century | French | Poet, musician | 2 | 6 | |
Bourignon, Antoinette | 1616–1680 | Belgian | Mystic, writer, printer | 2 | 6 | |
Bovey, Catherine | ?–1726 | English | Benefactress | 2 | 6 | |
Bregy, Countess of (Charlotte Saumaise de Chasan) | 1619–1684 | French | Noblewoman | 2 | 6 | |
Broadstreet (Bradstreet), Anne | 1612–1672 | North American | Poet | 2 | 6 | |
Marie Bruneau des Loges | ?–1641 | French | Noblewoman | 1 | ||
Burleigh, Lady Mildred | 1526–1589 | English | Writer, translations | 2 | 6 | |
Burnet, Elizabeth | 1661–1708 | English | Writer, benefactress | 2 | 6 | |
Bury, Elizabeth | 1644–1720 | English | Diarist | 2 | 6 | |
Calphurnia | 1st century | Roman | Wife of Pliny (the Younger) | 2 | 6 | |
Calpurnia | 1st century BCE | Roman | Wife of Julius Caesar | 2 | 6 | |
Capello, Bianca | 1545–1590 | Italian | Noblewoman | 2 | 6 | |
Carew, Lady Elizabeth | 16th century | English | Writer | 3 | 7 | |
Carolina, wife to George II (Caroline of Ansbach) | 1683–1737 | German | Queen consort | 2 | 6 | |
Catherine I of Russia | 1684–1727 | Latvian? | Queen | 2 | 6 | |
Catherine II of Russia (Catherine the Great) | 1729–1796 | German | Queen, writer | 2 | 6 & 7 | |
Catherine of Aragon | 1485–1536 | Spanish | Queen, Regent | 2 | 6 | |
Catherine of Medicis | 1519–1589 | French | Queen consort, patron of the arts | 2 | 6 | |
Centrelivre, Susannah | 1667–1723 | English | Poet, actress, dramatist | 3 | 7 | |
Chandler, Mary | 1689–1745 | English | Poet | 3 | 7 | |
Chapone, Mrs. (Hester) | 1727–1801 | English | Writer | 3 | 7 | |
Charixena | ? | Greek | Writer, poet | 3 | 7 | |
Chatelet, Marchioness de (Émilie) | 1706–1749 | French | Writer, mathematician, physicist | 2 | ||
Chelonis, wife of Cleombrotus II | 3rd century BCE | Greek | Queen | 3 | 7 | |
Christina, Queen of Sweden | 1626–1689 | Swedish | Queen | 3 | 7 | |
Chudleigh, Lady Mary | 1656–1710 | English | Writer, poet | 3 | 7 | |
Cibber, Susannah Maria | 1714–1766 | English | Singer, actress | 3 | 7 | |
Clemente, Margaret | 1508–1570 | English | Learned woman, niece of Thomas More | 3 | 7 | |
Cleobule (Cleobuline), daughter of Cleobulus | 6th century BCE | Greek | Known for her verse riddles | 3 | 7 | |
Cleopatra | 69–30 BCE | Egyptian | Pharaoh | 3 | 7 | |
Clifford, Anne, Countess of Pembroke, Dorset and Montgomery | 1589–1675 | English | Noblewoman, diarist | 3 | 7 | |
Clive, Catherine | 1711–1785 | English | Actress | 3 | 7 | |
Cockburn, Catherine | 1679–1749 | Scottish | Novelist, dramatist, philosopher | 3 | 7 | |
Colonne, Victoire, Marchioness de Pescaire (Vittoria Colonna) | 1490–1547 | Italian | Noblewoman, poet | 3 | 7 | |
Comnena, Anna | 12th century | Greek | Byzantine princess, scholar, historian | 3 | 7 | |
Cordaud, Isabella de (Isabella Losa of Cordova) | Spanish | Scholar, Doctor of Theology | 3 | 7 | ||
Cordey, Charlotte | 1768–1793 | French | Assassinated Jean-Paul Marat | 3 | 7 | |
Corinna | 5th century BCE | Greek | Poet, teacher | 3 | 7 | |
Cornaro, Helena Lucretia | 1646–1685 | Italian | Mathematician, Doctor of Philosophy | 3 | 7 | |
Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi | 2nd century BCE | Roman | Roman noblewoman | 3 | 7 | |
Cromwell, Elizabeth | 1598–1665 | English | Wife of Oliver Cromwell | 3 | 7 | |
Cruz, Juana Inez de la | 1648–1695 | Mexican (New Spain) | Scholar, poet, nun | 3 | 7 | |
Cynisca | 440–? BCE | Greek | Spartan princess, first woman to win at Olympic games | 3 | 7 | |
Dacier, Madame | 1651–1720 | French | Scholar, translations | 4 | 8 | |
Damophila, wife of Damophilus | 7th century BCE | Greek | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Dancy, Elizabeth | 1509-? | English | Daughter of Thomas More, scholar | 4 | 8 | |
Dante, Theodora | 16th century | Italian | Mathematician | 4 | 8 | |
Darbach or Karsch, Louisa | 1722–1791 | Silesian (German-language) | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Davies, Lady Eleanor | ?–1652 | English | Prophet, author | 4 | 8 | |
Derby, Countess of | ![]() |
1599–1664 | English | English noblewoman | 4 | 8 |
Desmond, Countess of (Katherine Fitzgerald) | ![]() |
c. 1504–1604 | Irish | Noblewoman | 4 | 8 |
Dido, Queen of Carthage | 356–260 BCE | Phoenician (modern-day Lebanon) | Queen | 4 | 8 | |
Diotyma | 5th century BCE | Greek | Priestess, philosopher | 4 | 8 | |
Drusilla, Livia | ![]() |
58 BCE – 29 CE | Roman | Roman empress | 4 | 8 |
Dubois, Dorothea | 1728–1774 | English | Novelist, playwright | 4 | 8 | |
Marie Dupré | 17th century | French | Scholar, author, poet | 4 | 8 | |
Ebba, Abbess of Coldingham | c. 615–683 | Irish | Abbess | 4 | 8 | |
Edesie, wife of Hermias | 4th century BCE | Greek | Philosopher | 4 | 8 | |
Egeé | 13th century | Libyan Queen, Amazon warrior | 4 | 8 | ||
Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Louis VII of France, and Henry II of England | ![]() |
1112–1204 | French | Queen consort, patron of literary figures | 4 | 8 |
Elizabeth, Queen of England | 1533–1603 | English | Queen, writer, translations | 4 | 8 | |
Elizabeth of France, Queen of Spain | 1545–1568 | French | Queen consort | 4 | 8 | |
Elstob, Elizabeth | 1683–1736 | English | Scholar, author, translations | 4 | 8 | |
Enclos, Ninon de l' | 1616–1706 | French | Author, courtesan, patron of the arts | 4 | 8 | |
Emma, Queen of England | c. 985–1052 | English (Norman) | Queen consort | 4 | 8 | |
Eponina (or Epponina) | 1st century | Roman | Roman matron (wife of Julius Sabinus) | 4 | 8 | |
Erinna | 4th century BCE | Greek | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Estrada, Maria d’ | 16th century | Spanish | Warrior | 4 | 8 | |
Ethelfleda, Queen of England | ?–922 | English | Queen | 4 | 8 | |
Eurydice | 4th century BCE | Scholar | 6 | 8 | ||
Eusebia (Flavia Auelia, wife of Constance) | 4th century | Roman | Roman matron | 4 | 8 | |
Falconberg, Lady daughter of Oliver Cromwell | 1637–1713 | English | daughter of Oliver Cromwell | 4 | 8 | |
Fane, Lady Elizabeth | 16th century | English | Author | 4 | 8 | |
Fannia (daughter of Paetus Thrasea) | 1st century | Roman | Roman political rebel | 4 | 8 | |
Fayette, Countess de la (Marie-Madeleine Pioche de la Vergne) | ?–1698 | French | Author, novelist | 4 | 8 | |
Fidele, Cassandra | 1465-? | Italian | Scholar, poet | 4 | 8 | |
Fielding, Sarah | 1714–1768 | English | Author, novelist | 4 | 8 | |
Finch, Anne, Countess of Winchelsea | 1661–1720 | English | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Fischer, Mary | 17th century | English | Quaker zealot | 4 | 8 | |
Foix, Margaret de, Duchess D’Épernon | 16th century | French | Duchess | 4 | 8 | |
Fulvia, wife of Marc Antony | 1st century BCE | Roman | Roman aristocrat | 4 | 8 | |
Galigai, Leonora | ?–1617 | French | Alleged witch | 4 | 8 | |
Gethin, Lady Grace | 1676–1697 | English | Scholar, essayist | 4 | 8 | |
Gonzaga, Cecilia de | 1425–1451 | Italian | Scholar | 4 | 8 | |
Gonzaga, Eleonora | 1493–1570 | Italian | Governed Urbino during her husband's exile, patron | 4 | 8 | |
Gonzaga, Isabella de (Elisabetta Gonzaga?) | 1471–1526 | Italian | Noblewoman | 4 | 8 | |
Gonzaga, Julia | 1513–1566 | Italian | Noblewoman | 4 | 8 | |
Gonzaga, Lucretia | 16th century | Italian | Noblewoman, writer, scholar | 4 | 8 | |
Gray, Lady Jane | 1622–1699 | English | Scholar, Monarch | 4 | 8 | |
Grierson, Constantia | 1706–1732 | Irish | Scholar, poet, midwife | 4 | 8 | |
Guercheville, Madame de | 16th century | French | Noblewoman, patron | 4 | 8 | |
Guillaume, Jacquette | 17th century | French | Writer | 4 | 8 | |
Guillet, Pernette du | 16th century | French | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Guyon, Madame (Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de la Motte-Guyon) | 1648–1717 | French | Mystic, writer | 4 | 8 | |
Haerin, Lucia (Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford) | 1580–1627 | English | Patron of arts and literature | 4 | 8 | |
Halket, Lady Anna | 1622–1699 | English | Writer, autobiographer | 4 | 8 | |
Harcourt, Harriet Eusebia | 1705–1745 | English | established Protestant nunnery | 4 | 8 | |
Hardwick, Elizabeth, (Countess of Shrewsbury) | 1520–1607 | English | Noblewoman, famous for her building projects | 4 | 8 | |
Hastings, Lady Elizabeth | 1682–1739 | English | Benefactress | 4 | 8 | |
Haywood, Elizabeth | 1698–1756 | English | Writer, actress, publisher | 4 | 8 | |
Helena Flavia, mother of Constantine the Great | 250–330 | Roman | Mother of Emperor Constantine | 4 | 8 | |
Heloise | 1101–1164 | French | Writer, scholar, abbess | 4 | 8 | |
Helpes (Elpes, wife of Anicius Marius Torgquatus Severinus Boetius) | 6th century | Roman | Learned woman | 4 | 8 | |
Heron, Cecily | 1510-? | English | Learned woman | 4 | 8 | |
Hersilia | 9th century BCE | Roman | Wife of Romulus, mediator | 4 | 8 | |
Hildegurdis (Hildegard of Bingen) | 1098–1179 | German | Christian mystic, abbess | 4 | 8 | |
Hipparchia | 3rd century | Greek | Philosopher | 4 | 8 | |
Hopton, Susanna | 1627–1709 | English | Religious writer | 4 | 8 | |
Hortensia | 1st century BCE | Roman | Orator | 4 | 8 | |
Houlieres, Antoinetta de la garde des | 1638–1694 | French | Scholar, philosopher, poet | 4 | 8 | |
Hyde, Ann | 1637–1671 | English | Writer | 4 | 8 | |
Hypatia | 4th century | Greek | Mathematician, philosopher | 4 | 8 | |
Inglis, Esther | 1571–1624 | Scottish | Calligrapher, translator, writer | 4 | 8 | |
Isabella, Queen of Hungary | 16th century | Polish | Queen consort | 4 | 8 | |
Jane, Queen of France | 1337–1378 | French | Queen consort to Charles V | 4 | 8 | |
Jardins, Mary Catherine de | 1640–1683 | French | Author, playwright | 4 | 8 | |
Jars, Mary de, Lady of Gournay | 1565–1645 | French | Author, editor | 4 | 8 | |
Julia Domna | ?–217 | Roman? | Roman Empress | 4 | 8 | |
Juliana, anchoret of Norwich | 14th century | English | Mystic | 4 | 8 | |
Killigrew, Anne | 1660–1685 | English | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Killigrew, Katherine | 1530–? | English | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Labe, Louise | 1525–1566 | French | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Lambrun, Margaret | 16th century | Scottish | Would-be assassin of Queen Elizabeth | 4 | 8 | |
Landa, Catherine | ?–1526 | Italian | Learned woman, writer | 4 | 8 | |
Lane, Mrs. Jane | 1626–1689 | English | Assisted in the escape of Charles II | 4 | 8 | |
Leapor, Mary | 1722–1746 | English | Poet | 4 | 8 | |
Legge, Elizabeth | 1580–1685 | English | Learned woman, poet | 4 | 8 | |
Leontium | 4th century BCE | Greek | Philosopher | 4 | 8 | |
Elizabeth, Countess of Lincoln | c. 1574 – c. 1630 | English | Writer | 4 | 8 | |
Lionna | 6th century BCE | Greek | Greek heroine | 4 | 8 | |
Longvie, Jaquiline de, Duchess of Montpensier | 16th century | French | Noblewoman, leader of troops | 4 | 8 | |
Lucar, Elizabeth | 1510–1537 | English | Calligrapher | 4 | 8 | |
Lucretia | 5th century BCE | Roman | Roman matron | 4 | 8 | |
Lumley, Joanna Lady | ?–1620 | English | Scholar, translations | 4 | 8 | |
Macaulay, Mrs. | 1733–1791 | English | Writer, historian | 5 | 9 | |
Maeroe | ? | ? | Learned woman | 5 | 9 | |
Magdalene de St Nectaire | 1526–1570 | French | Protestant heroine of holy wars | 5 | 9 | |
Maintenon, Madame de (Francoise d'Aubigne Madame Scarron) | 1635–1719 | French | Influential wife to King Louis XIV of France | 5 | 9 | |
Margaret de Valois, Queen of Navarre (Marguerite d'Angoulême) | 1492–1549 | French | Queen consort, author, patron | 5 | 9 | |
Maria | 4th century BCE | Greek | Greek warrior | 5 | 9 | |
Marinelli, Lucrezia | 17th century | Italian | Writer | 5 | 9 | |
Mary, an Anglo-Norman Poetess | 13th century | French | Poet | 5 | 9 | |
Mary, Queen of Hungary | 1503–1558 | Hungarian? | Queen consort | 5 | 9 | |
Mary, Queen of Scots | 1517–1567 | English | Queen regent | 5 | 9 | |
Masham, Damaris Lady | 1659–1708 | English | Philosopher | 5 | 9 | |
Matoaks or Matoaka | 1585–1617 | North American | Native American, assisted Jamestown settlers | 5 | 9 | |
Moesa and Mammea – Julia Avita Mamaea | 180–235 | Roman | Roman matron, daughter of Julia Moesa | 5 | 9 | |
Moesa and Mammea – Julia Moesa | c. 165 – c. 224 | Roman | Roman matron, sister of Julia Domna | 5 | 9 | |
Molsa, Tarquinia | 1474–1534 | Italian | Singer, poet | 5 | 9 | |
Monk, The Honourable Mrs. | ? – 1715 | Irish | Poet | 5 | 9 | |
Morata, Olympia Fulvia | 1526–1555 | Italian | Scholar | 5 | 9 | |
Mountfourt, Countess of | 14th century | French | Consort Duchess of Brittany | 5 | 9 | |
Nemours, Dutchess of (Marie d'Orléans-Longueville) | 1625–1707 | French | Memoirist | 5 | 9 | |
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of | 1623–1673 | English | Writer | 5 | 9 | |
North, The Honorable Mrs. Dudley | 1675–1712 | English | Scholar | 5 | 9 | |
Norton, Lady Frances | 1650–1720 | English | Writer, poet | 5 | 9 | |
Octavia, wife of Marc-Antony | ? – 744 | Roman | Roman matron | 6 | 10 | |
Octavia, wife to Nero | 40–62 | Roman | Roman Empress | 6 | 10 | |
Oldfield, Mrs. | 1683–1730 | English | Actress | 6 | 10 | |
Padilla, Maria Pacheco | 1496–1531 | Spanish | Spanish matron, warrior | 6 | 10 | |
Pakington, Dorothy Lady | 1623–1679 | English | Writer | 6 | 10 | |
Parthenai, Anne de | 16th century | French | Learned woman | 6 | 10 | |
Parthenai, Catherine de | 16th century | French | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Paulina (wife of Seneca) | 1st century | Roman | Intellectual | 6 | 10 | |
Perilla | 1st century BCE | Roman | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Perwich, Susanna | 1636–1661 | English | Learned woman, musician | 6 | 10 | |
Phila | 4th century | ? | Noblewoman, politician | 6 | 10 | |
Philippa, Queen of England | ![]() |
1311–1369 | English? | Queen consort, regent | 6 | 10 |
Phillips, Katherine | 1631–1664 | English | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Pilkington, Letitia | 1712- | Irish | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Pix, Mrs. (Mary Pix) | 1666–1720 | English | Novelist, playwright | 6 | 10 | |
Poitiers, Diana de | 1499–1566 | French | Noblewoman, Mistress to Henry II of France | 6 | 10 | |
Porcia, daughter of Cato | 70–43 BCE | Roman | Learned woman | 6 | 10 | |
Pozzo, Modesto | 1555–1592 | Italian | Writer | 6 | 10 | |
Praxilla | 8th century BCE | Greek | Lyric poet | 6 | 10 | |
Proba (Valerie Falconia) | 4th century | Roman | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Renata, Duchess of Ferrara (Renée de France) | 1510–1574 | French | Duchess | 6 | 10 | |
Rohan, Anne de (Anne de Rohan-Chabot and Madame de Frontenay) | 1562–1646 | French | Noblewoman, Mistress to Louis XIV | 6 | 10 | |
Rohan, Marie Eleonore de | 1628–1681 | French | Abbess, writer | 6 | 10 | |
Roland, Madame | 1754–1793 | French | Writer, politician | 6 | 10 | |
Roper, Margaret (daughter of Sir Thomas More) | 1505–1544 | English | Writer, translations | 6 | 10 | |
Roper, Mary (daughter of Margaret Roper) | 1526–1588 | English | Learned woman, translations | 6 | 10 | |
Rosares, Isabella de | 16th century | Spanish | Preacher | 6 | 10 | |
Rowe, Mrs. Elizabeth | 1674–1737 | English | Poet, novelist | 6 | 10 | |
Rufina, Claudia | 1st century | Roman | Writer | 6 | 10 | |
Russel, Lady Elizabeth | 1529–1609 | English | Poet, musician | 6 | 10 | |
Russel, Lady Rachel | 1636–1723 | English | Author | 6 | 10 | |
Sade, Laura | 1310–1348 | French | Muse to Petrarch | 6 | 10 | |
Sappho | 6th century BCE | Greek | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Scala, Alexandra | 1475–1506 | Italian | Scholar | 6 | 10 | |
Schurman, Anna Maria | 1607–1678 | German-Dutch | Painter, engraver, poet, scholar | 6 | 10 | |
Scudery, Madeleine de | 1607–1701 | French | Writer | 6 | 10 | |
Anne de Seguier | 16th century | French | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Semiramis | 2200 BCE | Assyrian | Queen | 6 | 10 | |
Seturman, Madame | ? | German | Painter, musician, philosopher, scholar | 6 | 10 | |
Sevigne, Marchioness de | 1626–1696 | French | Letter writer | 6 | 10 | |
Seymour, Lady Arabella | 1577–1615 | English | Noblewoman | 6 | 10 | |
Seymour Ladies (Ann)* | died 1588 | English | Writer | 6 | 10 | |
Seymour Ladies (Jane)* | c. 1541–1561 | English | Writer | 6 | 10 | |
Seymour Ladies (Margaret)* | 1540-? | English | Writer | 6 | 10 | |
Sforza, Catherine | 15th century | Italian | Medical expert | 6 | 10 | |
Sforza, Isabella | 16th century | Italian | Humanist writer | 6 | 10 | |
Sheridan, Mrs. Frances | 1724–1767 | Irish | Novelist, playwright | 6 | 10 | |
Sophronia | 4th century | Roman | Martyr | 6 | 10 | |
Sulpicia (wife of Quintus Fulvius Flaccus) | ![]() |
1st century | Roman | Lady of "virtue" | 6 | 10 |
Sunderland, Countess of (Dorothy Spencer) | 1617–1683 | English | Noblewoman | 6 | 10 | |
Suze, Countess de la (Henriette de Coligny, Comtesse de la Suze) | 1618–1673 | French | Poet, songwriter | 6 | 10 | |
Sydney, Mary, Countess of Pembroke | 1561–1621 | English | Writer, translations | 6 | 10 | |
Tanaquil | 6th century BCE | Roman | Roman queen | 6 | 10 | |
Telesilla | Fl. 510 BCE | Greek | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Theano Locrencis (Melica)* | 5th century BCE | Greek | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Theano of Crete* | ? | Greek | Poet, philosopher | 6 | 10 | |
Theano Thuria or Metapotino* | ? | Greek | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Thomas, Mrs. (Corinna) | 1675–1730 | English | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Thymele | ? | Greek | Poet, composer | 6 | 10 | |
Tishem, Catherine | 16th century | Dutch/English | Learned woman | 6 | 10 | |
Tollet, Elizabeth | 1694–1754 | English | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Tymicha | 5th century BCE | Greek | Greek heroine | 6 | 10 | |
Valeria | ?–315 | Roman | Roman empress, protectress of Christians | 6 | 10 | |
Valliere, Mademoiselle de la | 1644–1710 | French | Mistress to Louis XIV | 6 | 10 | |
Veturia | 5th century BCE | Roman | Roman matron | 6 | 10 | |
Vigne, Anne de la | 1634–1684 | French | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Warwick, Countess of (Mary Rich) | 1625–1678 | English | Benefactress | 6 | 10 | |
Weston, Elizabeth Jane | 1581–1612 | English | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Wharton, Anne | 1632–1685 | English | Poet, dramatist | 6 | 10 | |
Winchelsea, Anne Kingsmill Countess of | 1661–1720 | English | Poet | 6 | 10 | |
Zenobia | 240–274 | Syrian | Queen, warrior | 6 | 10 |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Hays, Mary. Female Biography; or Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women of all Ages and Countries (6 vols). London: R. Phillips, 1803.
- Hays, Mary, and Gina Luria Walker. Female Biography; or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women, of All Ages and Countries (1803). Six volume annotated facsimile edition published as the Chawton House Library Series' Memoirs of Women Writers, Part II-Part III. London: Pickering & Chatto, 2013 and 2014.
- Walker, Gina Luria. "Mary Hays." Project Continua (2014)
External links
[edit]- Female Biography; Or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women, of All Ages and Countries (1st ed.). London: R. Phillips. 1803. Full text of all six volumes available online at Hathi Trust
- Female Biography. Philadelphia: Byrch and Small. 1807. (1st American ed.) Full text of all three volumes available online at Hathi Trust