Ann Jebb

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During the last quarter of the eighteenth century AJ was an intellectual journalist and controversialist, publishing on both theological and political topics. Most of her printed writing is epistolary, and she also wrote letters then and early in the next century on political topics to various Reform-minded male friends.

Milestones

9 November 1735

Ann Torkington (later AJ ) was born at King's Rippon in Huntingdonshire, the eldest daughter in her family.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
597

24 March 1772

Addressing Samuel Hallifax in the London Chronicle, AJ (as Priscilla) told him, invectives may harden the heart, but can never enlighten the understanding; no difficulty was ever solved by abuse.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
598

21 December 1783-24 March 1784

AJ 's personal correspondence with John Cartwright (author of the Wilkesite Give us our Rights!, 1782) expresses her views on the party struggles and constitutional crisis of this period.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
601-3

14 January 1784

AJ formulated for John Cartwright her concept of political reform: I see every day more and more the necessity of forming an association of the friends of the people, independent of any party whatever.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
602

22 January 1784

AJ wrote to John Cartwright of her fears that parliament would plunder the East, and enslave this nation at their leisure.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
602

31 August 1790

AJ commented to Thomas Brand Hollis on the progress of the French Revolution, You see the fire is spreading every where. I tell you the world is a good world, as the Doctor [John Jebb ] used to say.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
663

2 April 1807

Two days after the Tory Duke of Portland became Prime Minister, AJ wrote to John Disney , The Times of today begins to be afraid of peace: still I cry nothing but peace can save us, and even that may come too late.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
666

2 November 1811

The latest letter of AJ 's that Meadley printed, written ten weeks before her death, expresses continuing anguish over this detestable war.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
667

20 January 1812

AJ died at her house in Half Moon Street, Piccadilly, London, after twenty years as an invalid.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
672

Biography

Birth and Family

9 November 1735

Ann Torkington (later AJ ) was born at King's Rippon in Huntingdonshire, the eldest daughter in her family.
Meadley, George William. “Memoir of Mrs. Jebb”. The Monthly Repository, Vol.
7
, pp. 597 - 604, 661.
597

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