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1747-1809
Poet. Born at Eyam Rectory, Derbyshire, on 12 December 1747. Thomas Seward, her father, became a canon at Lichfield Cathedral in 1757 and the family moved to the city, where Anna was to live the rest of her life.
She wrote poetry from a early age and began to have items published in periodicals as well as giving copies to her friends and acquaintances. Through this activity she became an active member of the literary fraternity in Lichfield, which included Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin, and was dubbed the "Swan of Lichfield". Others associated with the circle included the friends, Thomas Day and Richard Lovell Edgeworth (father of Maria Edgeworth).
Her verse is of a romantic nature, either recalling her own experience of places and events or on more general themes of love, often emanating from her own romantic inclinations. She became very attached to various female friends during her life, particularly Honora Sneyd, who lived with the Sewards during her youth. Anna was apparently devastated when Honora married their mutual literary acquaintance Richard Edgeworth. Anna never married.
A collected edition of the poetry of Anna Seward, in three volumes, was edited by Sir Walter Scott and was published in 1810. Her letters, in six volumes, appeared in 1811.
She also wrote Memoirs of the life of Dr. Darwin, chiefly during his residence at Lichfield; with anecdotes of his friends, and criticisms on his writings. (1804)
The actor and biographer Hesketh Pearson (1887-1964) published a study of Anna Seward and her world entitled The swan of Lichfield in 1936.
The Literary Encyclopedia has a profile of Anna Seward by Harriet Jump, Edge Hill.
Page created 9 February 2001 and last updated 7 April 2005
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