Elizabeth Graeme Elizabeth Graeme FergussonFergusson: :

“Female Genius “Female Genius of the Delaware of the Delaware

Valley”Valley”

1737-18011737-1801

The Early YearsThe Early Years

• Elizabeth, born into the elite, grew up outside Elizabeth, born into the elite, grew up outside of Philadelphia at the family’s country estate, of Philadelphia at the family’s country estate, Graeme Park.Graeme Park.

• Her family was both wealthy and influential.Her family was both wealthy and influential.• Around 1757 she became engaged to William Around 1757 she became engaged to William

Franklin, son of none other than Benjamin Franklin, son of none other than Benjamin Franklin. Franklin.

• Because both families opposed the marriage, Because both families opposed the marriage, the engagement was ultimately called off. the engagement was ultimately called off.

Graeme Park, PA Historical Graeme Park, PA Historical SiteSite

• Between 1764 and 1765 Elizabeth Between 1764 and 1765 Elizabeth was in London.was in London.

• Here, she met several “leading Here, she met several “leading literary and scientific figures.”literary and scientific figures.”

• Upon her mother’s death in 1765, Upon her mother’s death in 1765, she returned home in order to she returned home in order to assume her duties as mistress of assume her duties as mistress of Graeme Park where she established Graeme Park where she established a literary salon.a literary salon.

The LiteratureThe Literature

• Elizabeth translated Francois de Elizabeth translated Francois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon’s Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon’s TelemaqueTelemaque during her recovery from during her recovery from her broken engagement to Franklin.her broken engagement to Franklin.

• Her translation was widely circulated Her translation was widely circulated and contributed towards earning her and contributed towards earning her a prolific writing reputation. a prolific writing reputation.

• Other writings during this period Other writings during this period include a metrical version of the include a metrical version of the Psalms, Psalms, documented documented correspondences between correspondences between contemporaries, and a journal. contemporaries, and a journal.

• Few of her writings were published in Few of her writings were published in her lifetime. her lifetime.

Upon MarriageUpon Marriage

• In April of 1772, Elizabeth married In April of 1772, Elizabeth married Henry H. Fergusson.Henry H. Fergusson.

• After her father’s death in late 1772, After her father’s death in late 1772, she inherited Graeme Park and spent she inherited Graeme Park and spent much of her time there, apart from much of her time there, apart from her husband who spent much of his her husband who spent much of his time in England.time in England.

Revolution!Revolution!

• During the American Revolution, Fergusson’s During the American Revolution, Fergusson’s husband devoted himself to the cause of the husband devoted himself to the cause of the Loyalists (people loyal to England during the war) Loyalists (people loyal to England during the war) while Elizabeth herself “mildly” support the cause while Elizabeth herself “mildly” support the cause of the Whigs (social reformists in opposition to of the Whigs (social reformists in opposition to the Loyalists). the Loyalists).

• In October of 1777, her husband asked her to In October of 1777, her husband asked her to retrieve a letter from the Reverend Jacob Duche retrieve a letter from the Reverend Jacob Duche and carry it to General George Washington, and carry it to General George Washington, telling him to surrender.telling him to surrender.

• Upon doing so, Washington “chided her for her Upon doing so, Washington “chided her for her part in the episode.”part in the episode.”

Female RevolutionaryFemale Revolutionary

• Fergusson’s role in such political proceedings Fergusson’s role in such political proceedings (that episode with Washington was not her last), (that episode with Washington was not her last), were neither advantageous to herself nor her were neither advantageous to herself nor her husband. husband.

• Following her husband’s attainment and Following her husband’s attainment and proscription, authorities confiscated her home, proscription, authorities confiscated her home, Graeme Park. Graeme Park.

• Even after Graeme Park was restored to her in Even after Graeme Park was restored to her in 1781, she lost it again in 1791 because of 1781, she lost it again in 1791 because of “financial reverses.”“financial reverses.”

• After divorcing her husband in 1781, she began After divorcing her husband in 1781, she began publishing poems in magazines and newspapers. publishing poems in magazines and newspapers.

WritingWriting

•Elizabeth, like many outspoken women Elizabeth, like many outspoken women of this era, used pseudonyms, but of this era, used pseudonyms, but female female ones. ones. •These women wanted to retain their These women wanted to retain their class statuses without revealing their class statuses without revealing their individual identities.individual identities.•Simply in being female, they would Simply in being female, they would already be recognized as members of the already be recognized as members of the upper or upper middle class elite.upper or upper middle class elite.•Elizabeth used an “individuated” Elizabeth used an “individuated” pseudonym, like “’Laura’ or ‘Sylvia’” as pseudonym, like “’Laura’ or ‘Sylvia’” as her writings were predominately her writings were predominately circulated within a largely female circulated within a largely female community (Cima). community (Cima).

• In much of her writings, both her poetry and In much of her writings, both her poetry and her prose, Fergusson figures Nature as a kind her prose, Fergusson figures Nature as a kind of female-centered “green retreat from the of female-centered “green retreat from the gaudy ‘shew’ and noisy ‘scandal’ of the city” gaudy ‘shew’ and noisy ‘scandal’ of the city” (Parrish).(Parrish).

• Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson, according to Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson, according to scholar Susan Scott Parrish, was “after 1765” scholar Susan Scott Parrish, was “after 1765” considered ‘the presiding female genius of the considered ‘the presiding female genius of the Delaware Valley (Shields 138)’” (Parrish).Delaware Valley (Shields 138)’” (Parrish).

• Because most of her work was unpublished, Because most of her work was unpublished, few peer criticisms exist. few peer criticisms exist.

BibliographyBibliography

• Cima, Gay Gibson. “Black and Unmarked: Phillis Wheatley, Cima, Gay Gibson. “Black and Unmarked: Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren, and the Limits of Strategic Anonymity.” Mercy Otis Warren, and the Limits of Strategic Anonymity.” Theatre JournalTheatre Journal 52.4 (2000): 465-495. 52.4 (2000): 465-495.

• http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9125721/Elizabeth-http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9125721/Elizabeth-Graeme-FergusonGraeme-Ferguson

• Parrish, Susan Scott. “Women’s Nature: Curiosity, Pastoral, Parrish, Susan Scott. “Women’s Nature: Curiosity, Pastoral, and the New Science in British America.” and the New Science in British America.” Early American Early American LiteratureLiterature 37.2 (2002): 195-245. 37.2 (2002): 195-245.

• www.wegoplaces.com www.wegoplaces.com