Susanna Watts
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Susanna Watts (1768–1842) was an English
abolitionist Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world. The first country to fully outlaw slavery was Kingdom of France, France in 1315, but it was later used ...
, writer and translator. She co-founded ''The Humming Bird'' anti-slavery periodical, campaigned against the purchase of Caribbean sugar or other products produced by slave labour and collected local signatures for the London Female Anti-Slavery Society’s national petition. She also wrote the first guide book of Leicester and founded the philanthropical organisation, the Society of the Relief of Indigent Old Age.


Family

Watts was born in 1768, in Danet's Hall,
Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...
and was baptised on 5 July 1768. She was the youngest of three sisters and the only child of John and Joan Watts () to survive childhood, as her two siblings died young from
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
. Her formerly genteel family was left impoverished after her uncle (who had supported the family after Watts' father died when she was 15 months old), died when she was 15.Grundy, Isobel. (7 January 2010 3 September 2004


Career

Watts was a gifted linguist and learned
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
and
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
in order to teach and translate. She also took up writing in order to earn money to support herself and her mother. Her poetry was noted for its anti-slavery themes and she published a poem directed at politician and abolitionist
William Wilberforce William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was a British politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the Atlantic slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780 ...
, criticising his views on women working in the abolitionist movement. He felt that campaigning against slavery was "unsuited to the female character as delineated in scripture." Watts and her friend
Elizabeth Heyrick Elizabeth Heyrick (née Coltman; 4 December 1769 – 18 October 1831) was an English philanthropist and campaigner against the slave trade. She supported immediate, rather than gradual, abolition. Early life Born in Leicester, Elizabeth was the ...
campaigned against slavery, including founding female-authored ''The Humming Bird'', the first anti-slavery periodical. The editors were listed as the three sisters: "Truth, Common Sense, and Philanthropy". Watts visited greengrocers and other businesses to encourage the owners not to purchase Caribbean sugar and other products produced by slave labour, as "abstinence from sugar would sign the death warrant of West Indian slavery." By June 1825, about a quarter of Leicester's population had given up sugar. In 1833, when the London Female Anti-Slavery Society’s organised a national anti-slavery petition, Watts collected local signatures in Leicestershire. When slaves were emancipated a year later in 1834, Watts was fêted for her abolitionist campaigning. Watts published a number of translations, collections of poetry, and travel writing. Upon Heyrick's death in 1834, Watts published a poem ''To the Memory of Eliizabeth Heyrick.'' Watts' reputation led to her being noted in Mary Pilkington's ''Memoirs of Celebrated Female Characters.'' She published her guidebook ''A Walk Through Leicester'' anonymously, and referred to herself as 'he' in the address at the beginning of the book. The work is now recognised as the first published guide book about the town. Watts also founded the philanthropical organisation, Society of the Relief of Indigent Old Age, as well as publishing books on the treatment of animals. Her poem ''The Insects in Council: Addressed to Entomologists, with Other Poems'' argued that even insects deserved freedom through the narrations of a dragon-fly, a bee and a moth''.''


Death

Watts died on 11 February 1842 in Leicester and was buried at St Mary de Castro Church on 15 February 1842. Her scrapbook of her work and interests is now held by the Leicestershire Records Office.


Selected published works

*''Chinese maxims, translated from The oeconomy of human life, into heroic verse'' - (Translation) (1784). *''The Wonderful Travels of Prince Fan-Feredin, in the Country of Arcadia'' – (Translation) (1799). *''Original Poems and Translations'' (1802). *''A Walk Through Leicester'' (1804). *''The Insects in Council, Addressed to Entomologists, with Other Poems'' (1828). *''The Animals’ Friend: a Collection of Observations and Facts Tending to Restrain Cruelty, and to Inculcate Kindness towards Animals'' (1831)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watts, Susanna 1768 births 1842 deaths Writers from Leicester English abolitionists English non-fiction writers English translators English women poets English women non-fiction writers