Elizabeth Carter
An 18th-century intellectual powerhouse who mastered ancient Greek to bring Stoic philosophy to English readers, while moving in London's most brilliant circles.
1717–1806 (age 89)·English poet and polymath·Birthday: December 16
Biography
Elizabeth Carter carved out a formidable intellectual life in Georgian England, a world where scholarly ambition was rarely encouraged in women. Born in Deal, Kent, she was largely self-taught, driven by a voracious appetite for languages that saw her become fluent in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Arabic. Her true monument is her 1758 translation of the 'Discourses of Epictetus', a work of such scholarly heft that it remained the standard English version for over a century. Carter was a central, respected figure in the Bluestocking Circle, a network of intellectual women and men gathered around Elizabeth Montagu. Her correspondence with figures like Samuel Johnson—who admired her deeply—reveals a sharp, witty mind. She never married, using her literary earnings to secure a comfortable independence, and her poetry and essays, published under her own name, demonstrated that a woman could be both deeply learned and publicly celebrated.
#1 When Elizabeth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1717
Elizabeth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1717Born
1722Started school
1730Became a teenager
1733Could drive
1735Could vote
1738Turned 21
1747Turned 30
1757Turned 40
1767Turned 50
1777Turned 60
1787Turned 70
1797Turned 80
1806Died at 89
Key Achievements
- Produced the first complete English translation of Epictetus's 'Discourses' in 1758, a work of enduring scholarly value.
- Was a pivotal member of the Bluestocking Circle, influencing 18th-century intellectual society.
- Published multiple volumes of poetry and essays, establishing a successful literary career under her own name.
- Mastered at least nine languages, including ancient Greek and Hebrew, largely through independent study.
Did You Know?
She would rise at 4 a.m. to study, often wrapping herself in a wet sheet to stay awake in the cold.
Her translation of Epictetus was published by subscription and made her financially independent.
Samuel Johnson said of her, "She could make a pudding as well as translate Epictetus."
She was offered a pension by King George III but declined it.
“I am not at all ambitious of any fame but that of being a good daughter, a good sister, and a good friend.”
