When and where was Harriet Martineau born?
Harriet Martineau was born on the 12th of June 1802 in Norwich, England. Her early life involved significant health struggles due to a lack of nourishment from her wet nurse.
Questions about Harriet Martineau
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What caused Harriet Martineau to become deaf at age twelve?
Harriet Martineau began losing her senses of taste and smell at a young age and became deaf by the time she turned twelve. She required an ear trumpet but avoided using it publicly until her late twenties to escape harassment.
How did Harriet Martineau earn money after her family business collapsed?
Harriet Martineau stepped out of traditional feminine roles to earn money after her father died in 1826 and the family textile business collapsed two years later. In 1832 she published Illustrations of Political Economy which quickly outsold Charles Dickens and supported her family.
Why did Harriet Martineau travel to the United States in 1834?
Harriet Martineau traveled to the United States in 1834 to visit companions spanning the nation from New York to Boston and from Chicago through Atlanta. During this journey she met James Madison and numerous abolitionists while supporting abolitionism despite its unpopularity across the U.S.
What illness did Harriet Martineau suffer during her 1839 European visit?
During a visit to Continental Europe in 1839 Harriet Martineau was diagnosed with a uterine tumor and remained immobile for six months. She regained her health by staying at Mrs Halliday boarding house from March 1840 where she wrote Life in the Sickroom Essays by an Invalid.
How did Harriet Martineau contribute to the field of sociology?
Auguste Comte coined the name sociology and Harriet Martineau undertook a concise translation that appeared in two volumes in 1853 as The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte. Her work established her credit as a sociologist and introduced Comte to the English-speaking world.