Elizabeth Carter (16 December 1717 – 19 February 1806) was an English poet, classicist, writer and translator, and a member of the Bluestocking Circle.
Born in Deal, Kent, she was the daughter of a clergyman whose parish was in the town. Encouraged by her father to study, she mastered several modern and ancient languages (including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic) and science. She rendered into English De Crousaz’s Examen de l’essai de Monsieur Pope sur l’homme (Examination of Mr Pope’s “An Essay on Man”, two volumes, 1739); Algarotti’s Newtonianismo per le donne (Newtonianism for women); and wrote a small volume of poems.
Carter’s position in the pantheon of eighteenth century women writers was, however, secured by her translation in 1758 of All the Works of Epictetus, Which are Now Extant, the first English translation of all known works by the Greek stoic philosopher. This work made her name and fortune, securing her a spectacular £1000 in subscription money.
She was a friend of Samuel Johnson, editing some editions of his periodical The Rambler. He wrote that “[my] old friend, Mrs Carter could make a pudding [just] as well as translate Epictetus… and work a handkerchief [just] as well as compose a poem“. She was friends with many other eminent men, as well as being a close confidant of Elizabeth Montagu, Hannah More, Hester Chapone, and several other members of the Bluestocking circle.
Location
- Address: Carter House, South Street, Deal
- Google map: Latitude: 51.22232; Longitude: 1.40380