Ann Fisher (grammarian)
Encyclopedia
Ann Fisher (bap 9 December 1719 – 2 May 1798) was an author and grammarian. Her A New Grammar published in 1745 makes her the earliest published female author on English
grammar
, with deference to Elizabeth Elstob
who published a grammar for English-Saxon in 1715, though not English in the same sense.
, Cumberland
, England
, the daughter of Henry Fisher, yeoman, of Oldscale. Not much more is known of her life until her marriage to Thomas Slack in December of 1751. Together they had nine children and ran a number of businesses, including a Ladies School which Ann ran herself. In spite of the prejudices against women as "of inferior intelligence" in that time period, Anne managed to publish what is considered the 4th most popular English Grammar book produced in the 18th century, as well as a number of other titles, many of which were published by her husband, Thomas. She died of an asthma
attack in 1798, aged 58.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
, with deference to Elizabeth Elstob
Elizabeth Elstob
Elizabeth Elstob , the 'Saxon Nymph,' was born and brought up in the Quayside area of Newcastle upon Tyne, and, like Mary Astell of Newcastle, is nowadays regarded as one of the first English feminists...
who published a grammar for English-Saxon in 1715, though not English in the same sense.
Life
Fisher was born in LortonLorton, Cumbria
Lorton is a civil parish in the district of Allerdale, in the county of Cumbria, England, containing two small villages - Low Lorton and High Lorton, both approximately four miles south of Cockermouth. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish had a total population of 250 people...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the daughter of Henry Fisher, yeoman, of Oldscale. Not much more is known of her life until her marriage to Thomas Slack in December of 1751. Together they had nine children and ran a number of businesses, including a Ladies School which Ann ran herself. In spite of the prejudices against women as "of inferior intelligence" in that time period, Anne managed to publish what is considered the 4th most popular English Grammar book produced in the 18th century, as well as a number of other titles, many of which were published by her husband, Thomas. She died of an asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
attack in 1798, aged 58.