Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft was born to Edward and Elizabeth Wollstonecraft in Spitalfields, London. Her father was a textile manufacturer who struggled with financial difficulties, leading to a tumultuous family life.

The Wollstonecraft family moved to Epping, Essex, due to financial troubles. This move marked the beginning of a series of relocations that would characterize Mary's childhood.

Mary Wollstonecraft began her first job as a lady's companion to Sarah Dawson in Bath, a role that provided her with some financial independence but also exposed her to the constraints of women's roles.

Mary returned to London to care for her sister Eliza, who was suffering from postpartum depression. This experience deepened her resolve to support women's rights and independence.

Mary, along with her sister Eliza and friend Fanny Blood, opened a school in Newington Green, London. The school was progressive and emphasized education for girls, reflecting Mary's early feminist ideals.

Mary traveled to Portugal to visit her friend Fanny Blood, who was ill. Fanny's death during this visit deeply affected Mary and influenced her later writings on the importance of female friendship and support.

Mary Wollstonecraft published 'Thoughts on the Education of Daughters: With Reflections on Female Conduct, in the More Important Duties of Life.' This work advocated for the education of women and their moral and intellectual development.

Mary Wollstonecraft published 'A Vindication of the Rights of Men' in response to Edmund Burke's 'Reflections on the Revolution in France.' Her work defended the French Revolution and critiqued the status quo of gender and social inequality.

Mary Wollstonecraft's most famous work, 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,' was published. This groundbreaking text argued for women's education and equality, challenging the prevailing views of the time.

Mary traveled to France during the height of the French Revolution to observe and write about the political and social changes. Her experiences there influenced her later works and personal life.

Mary Wollstonecraft died in London from complications following the birth of her daughter, Mary Shelley. Her legacy as a pioneering feminist and philosopher continued to influence future generations of women.