Aphra Behn

 NAME Aphra Behn 

WHAT FAMOUS FOR She was the first woman in England to earn her living as a professional writer, producing plays, poems, and novels.

BIRTH Aphra Behn was baptised on December 14, 1640 at St Michael's Church, Harbledown, near Canterbury, Kent. The parish register records her baptism as "Eafry, d. of Bartholemew Johnson and Elizabeth, Harballdowne".

FAMILY BACKGROUND She was the daughter of Bartholomew Johnson, a barber and yeoman from Bishopsbourne, and Elizabeth Denham (formerly Dunham), a wet-nurse from a 'light aristocratic' Faversham family. Her father was described as a drunk who was often before the courts and repeatedly applied for freedom of the city of Canterbury to set up as a barber, but was refused by the mayor at least three times. Despite this, he operated an illegal barber's shop in Canterbury, undercutting his contemporaries. She had a brother named Edward who died when he was six and a half years old. Her foster brother was Thomas Colepeper.

CHILDHOOD Little is securely known about Behn's childhood. At the time of her birth, Harbledown's population was no more than 180, consisting of a small hamlet of farms and cottages along the London-Canterbury-Dover road. These were troubled times, with Parliament and King Charles I increasingly at loggerheads, and the outbreak of the Civil War only eighteen months away. It is suggested that whilst still a child, Eafry was taken by her parents to Surinam, then an English colony on the edge of the South American mainland, where she stayed until 1658 when the colony was handed to the Dutch. She may have been betrothed to a man named John Halse in 1657.

EDUCATION Despite her humble origins, Behn gained a good education, likely because of her mother's position as a wet-nurse to aristocratic families. She learned to write in an immaculate hand, speak and write French, and had some knowledge of Latin, as well as learning to dance and sing. However, she had no formal higher education. One biographer suggests that her common religious upbringing could have heavily influenced much of her work, with her experiences in church being more about exploring sexual desires than religious fervour.

CAREER RECORD 1668, Behn was recruited by King Charles II to serve as a spy in Antwerp. 

1669 After returning to London and falling into debt, she began writing for the stage. 

APPEARANCE  Contemporary portraits such as by Anglo-Dutch artist Sir Peter Lely show Behn with an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, a long straight nose and a slight double chin. Her hair was chestnut brown and neatly dressed in ringlets adorned with pearls. Her eyes were of a similar brown hue to her hair, and she had clear pale skin complemented by lightly rouged cheeks. She appears as a modest yet fashionable woman of her day, accessorised with fabrics and ornaments that speak to a genteel and prosperous status.

Aphra Behn by Peter Lely c1670

FASHION  Behn dressed fashionably for her era, wearing gowns typical of the 1670s and 1680s. In portraits, she appears in a tawny red or russet dress of stiff silk-like fabric, worn over a white shift and held in place by three sets of clasps set with precious stones (possibly diamonds, though they may have been paste). She wore a shawl of olive green fabric draped over her shoulder. Given her celebrity status in theatre circles, much of any money she made was likely spent on clothes and books to maintain her fashionable appearance.

CHARACTER Aphra Behn was fiercely independent, witty, and often described as having a "lethal combination of obscurity, secrecy, and staginess." She was a staunch Royalist and a political propagandist. In her personal morality, she was libertarian, believing that sexual conduct was a private matter. Critics often hailed her as “the Ingenious Mrs Behn” while opponents condemned her as a "lewd harlot" due to the frank and erotic themes in her writing. (1)

Contemporary accounts suggest she was quite talkative among friends but secretive about autobiographical details. She was characterised as somewhat naive and more easily fooled by false sincerity than someone of her experience should have been.

SPEAKING VOICE Her talkative nature among friends suggests she was an engaging conversationalist.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Behn's plays were known for their wit, verve, and bawdy comedies filled with libertines, harlots, and foolish characters. She challenged gender hierarchy making her female characters superior to male ones in laughter-raising situations. 

RELATIONSHIPS Behn married Johan Behn, a foreign merchant of Dutch or German parentage, around 1664, but the marriage did not last long and he died (possibly of plague) only a few years later. Her most significant relationship was with John Hoyle, a bisexual republican lawyer whom she met in the 1670s. Their relationship was tumultuous and was considered the "dominating one" in her life. Hoyle was openly republican, a follower of Thomas Hobbes, and had a violent past, having stabbed an unarmed watchmaker to death in 1663. 

She also had other male lovers throughout her lifetime, most notably a man allegorised as "Amintas" in her verses. 

She wrote explicitly of her attractions to women as well, including a poem "To The Fair Clarinda" addressed to a female lover.

Behn was associated with the literary coterie that included John Wilmot, Lord Rochester, and enjoyed a warm professional friendship with John Dryden.

MONEY AND FAME Despite her success, Behn was frequently in financial difficulties. Her spying missions were unprofitable, leaving her in debt and briefly imprisoned in debtors' prison. Even after becoming a successful playwright, Behn was always short of money. She was forced to pawn her rings to pay expenses during her Antwerp mission. In her final years, she was making enough money to get by but likely spent it on socialising and maintaining the fashionable appearance necessary for London theatre circles. There does not appear to have been a will when she died, suggesting she had no property to leave.

FOOD AND DRINK Her fictional narrator in Oroonoko describes having Oroonoko and Imoinda often dining at her table, suggesting she enjoyed entertaining guests. 

As a woman of the theatre and courtly world, she would have been familiar with the taverns, coffeehouses, and dining habits of Restoration London.

MUSIC AND ARTS Behn was deeply embedded in the artistic world of Restoration London. She associated with the circle of the Earl of Rochester and was friends with other famous libertines and poets. She worked closely with theatre companies and knew leading actors and actresses of the day, including Nell Gwyn who appeared in her play The Rover. 

WRITING CAREER Aphra Behn more or less stumbled into literary history by accident. Having been dispatched to Antwerp in 1668 to do a spot of spying for Charles II—a job that, rather unhelpfully, came without a salary—she returned home broke and briefly incarcerated for debt. With few other options, she turned to writing. In doing so, she became the first Englishwoman to make a living entirely from her pen, which is rather like being the first person to cross the Atlantic in a rowboat: everyone said it couldn’t be done, but she went ahead and did it anyway.

She began with the stage, her maiden effort The Forc’d Marriage making its debut in 1671. Over the next twenty years she produced play after play—comedies, tragedies, tragicomedies—tossing them out with a speed and regularity that would make modern dramatists blanch. Her biggest hit was The Rover (1677), which audiences adored and critics often sniffed at, largely because it was written by a woman and contained an unnerving amount of candour about sex, love, and other things polite society pretended not to think about.

Behn never let that bother her. She pointed out, quite correctly, that if her plays had been written by a man they’d have been hailed as racy rather than indecent. Alongside her theatrical work—at least eighteen plays survive—she also wrote poetry, short fiction, and translations, displaying an energy that suggests either boundless enthusiasm or a desperate need to pay the rent (probably both).

Her masterpiece was Oroonoko (1688), a novella about an African prince tricked into slavery and transported to Suriname. It was one of the first works in English to take a hard look at the barbarities of the slave trade, and it managed to be both a gripping story and a moral slap in the face to its readers. It is still read today, which is more than can be said for many of her critics.

First edition cover of Oroonoko

By the time she died in 1689, Behn had not only made a career for herself in a field that barely admitted women, she had also left behind a body of work that nudged English drama and fiction into new territory. For someone who started off as an unpaid spy and a debtor, it wasn’t a bad innings at all.

LITERATURE Aphra Behn had a deep and wide-ranging literary appetite, reading extensively in various genres and languages throughout her life. She was highly knowledgeable about classical works, including those of Ovid and other ancient poets, often referencing these sources in her plays and poetry. Behn translated works from French and Latin and engaged with continental literary trends, which greatly influenced her own writing style and themes

NATURE Her experiences in Surinam clearly influenced her writing, as evidenced in Oroonoko which begins with her account of the colony and its natural environment. Oroonoko features descriptions of the natural world and employs the political idea of the "noble savage" to critique European customs and colonial corruption.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Behn's involvement in London's social and theatrical circles suggests active participation in the cultural life of the period.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Behn translated scientific works from French, demonstrating an engagement with contemporary intellectual and scientific trends.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Behn’s religious outlook was strikingly rational for her time. During her life she was even suspected of atheism, largely because she described death as an “eternal night.” While never openly hostile to religion, she often questioned conventional morality and the limitations placed on women. 

Her plays and poems reveal a clear scepticism toward revealed religion, though she blended this with an unapologetic sensuality that was unusual for the period. Despite these challenges to orthodoxy, she was likely raised Catholic and once dedicated part of a play to the devoutly Catholic James II—a reminder of her complex and sometimes contradictory stance.

POLITICS Behn was an unflinching Tory and a devoted Royalist throughout her life. In the late 1670s she even acted as a propagandist for Charles II, her pen serving the Crown as much as the stage. The political storms of the Exclusion Crisis brought her into direct conflict with authority: a prologue and epilogue she wrote landed her in legal trouble, and in 1682 she was arrested for a biting satire against the King’s illegitimate son, the Whig Duke of Monmouth.

Her loyalty to the Stuart line never wavered. She refused Bishop Burnet’s invitation to welcome William III in verse and consistently defended James II, even amid waves of anti-Catholic hysteria. Though likely raised Catholic—she once quipped that she had been “designed for a nun”—her politics were less about doctrine than allegiance to monarchy.

Paradoxically, while a staunch monarchist in public life, Behn’s personal philosophy leaned toward libertarian ideals: she argued that private sexual morality should remain beyond political scrutiny. By the end of her life, however, the fall of the Stuarts marked the defeat of the cause to which she had tied herself so fiercely.

Portrait bof Aphra Behn by Mary Beale

SCANDAL Behn faced numerous scandals throughout her career. She was persistently accused of plagiarism and prostitution due to her professional associations in a male-dominated field.  The frank sexual language in her plays was condemned because she was a woman, though similar language was accepted from male dramatists. Critics attacked her with typical slurs: "For punk [prostitute] and poetess agree so pat. You cannot well be this and not be that". She was arrested for seditious writing in 1682. (2)

MILITARY RECORD Behn served as a spy for the English crown during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Her espionage career involved a dangerous mission to Antwerp. She was sent to convince former lovers and contacts to become double agents, though her mission was largely unsuccessful. Her code name was Astrea, a name under which she later published many of her writings

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Her health began to decline around 1685. The exact cause of her death is unknown, but one contemporary account suggested that the medical treatments she was receiving may have exacerbated her condition.

HOMES Like many working professionals of her time, she rented her dwellings in London. The absence of a will or estate suggests she did not own property.

TRAVEL Behn travelled extensively for her era. As a child, she journeyed to Surinam in South America returning approximately 1664. In 1666, she undertook a dangerous spying mission to Antwerp in the Netherlands. These travels clearly influenced her writing, particularly her novel Oroonoko, which drew on her experiences in Surinam.

DEATH Aphra Behn died on April 16, 1689, only a few days after the coronation of William and Mary in Westminster Abbey. The exact location of her death and its cause are unknown. 

She was buried in the East Cloister of Westminster Abbey, near the steps to the church. Her black marble gravestone was engraved with the words: "MRS APHRA BEHN DYED APRIL 16 A.D. 1689. Here lies a Proof that Wit can never be Defence enough against Mortality". The lines may have been written by Aphra herself or possibly by John Hoyle. 

The funeral was modest, in keeping with most burials in that area of the Abbey.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Virginia Woolf immortalised Behn in A Room of One's Own (1929), writing: "All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn which is, most scandalously but rather appropriately, in Westminster Abbey, for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds". 

Her story has been featured in various academic studies and biographical works. 

In 2021, the National Archives created a video about her spying career. 

A statue of her was unveiled in Canterbury in 2025.

Her plays, particularly The Rover, are still staged today, including a notable production by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2016.

ACHIEVEMENTS First Englishwoman to live by her pen.

Author of Oroonoko, one of the earliest anti-slavery works.

Prolific playwright with 17 plays.

A feminist icon for later generations.

Sources: (1) Aphra Behn: A Secret Life by Janet Todd (2) M.S. Magazine

Isabella Beeton

NAME Isabella Beeton

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Isabella Beeton is famous for her work as a writer and editor of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, a comprehensive guide to running a Victorian household.

BIRTH Isabella Mary Mayson was born on March 14, 1836, in Marylebone, London, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Isabella was the eldest of three daughters of Benjamin Mayson and Elizabeth Jerram. Her father was a linen factor merchant, a posh way of saying he sold fancy fabrics by the yard. 

CHILDHOOD Shortly after Isabella's arrival, the whole Mayson family relocated to Milk Street, Cheapside, which sounds less like a place of residence and more like a particularly dull cheese. Sadly, tragedy struck when Isabella was just four years old – when her father died.

Three years later, Isabella's mum, Elizabeth, snagged herself a new husband, Henry Dorling, a widower with four kids in tow. Henry wasn't exactly helping to shrink the family unit – he and Elizabeth proceeded to have a further thirteen children together. That's right, thirteen! By the time she was a teenager, Isabella was practically running her own nursery school, which probably explains a lot about her future career path.

EDUCATION Isabella received a modest education at home, focusing on typical subjects for young women of her time, such as music, drawing, and basic household management.

Isabella attended Finishing school in Heidelberg, Germany, where she excelled in piano, French, German, and gained experience in pastry-making. She briefly took further pastry-making lessons from a local baker in Epsom.

CAREER RECORD Isabella's career took off when she married Samuel Beeton, a publisher, in 1856. She began writing articles on cooking and household management for her husband's publications. Her resume reads:

Journalist and editor for her husband's publications, including the Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine.

Authored numerous articles and recipes for various magazines.

Compiled and edited Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, a monumental undertaking that became a bestseller.

APPEARANCE Isabella was described as petite and fair with a pleasant demeanor.

Isabella Beeton, née Mayson, photographed in about 1854

FASHION Isabella followed fashionable Victorian styles of her time, favoring elegant dresses and accessories.

CHARACTER Isabella was known for her industrious nature, intelligence, and attention to detail.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Her writing suggests a practical and no-nonsense personality.

RELATIONSHIPS On July 10, 1856, Isabella married Samuel Beeton, a publisher with ambition coursing through his veins. The wedding took place at St Martin's Church, Epsom, and was announced in The Times. The ceremony was a notable event, with eight bridesmaids in attendance, dressed in pale green, pale mauve, and white.

Isabella's stepfather, Henry Dorling, did not approve of the match and refused to attend the wedding, as Samuel had a reputation for being a womanizer.

Wedding scene of Isabella and Samuel Beeton at St Martin's Church, Epsom, 1856

After the ceremony, the newlyweds caught a train at nearby Reigate station and departed for Europe for their honeymoon. 

Isabella had a strong and supportive relationship with her husband, who encouraged her career as a writer.

Life wasn't all sunshine and soufflés for Isabella, though. Her short life was riddled with heartbreak. She gave birth to four children, but two died in infancy, and she suffered several miscarriages. 

MONEY AND FAME Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management became a bestseller, propelling Isabella's name into the public eye. She became synonymous with domestic expertise, a reputation that continues to this day.

While Isabella undoubtedly contributed significantly to the book's success, the financial rewards primarily went to her husband, Samuel, who controlled the publishing rights.

FOOD AND DRINK Isabella's expertise in food and cooking is best reflected in her famous book, which contains numerous recipes and culinary advice.

The earliest use of the word "tinned" to refer to food given by the Oxford English Dictionary is an 1861 reference by Mrs Beeton in her Book of Household Management to "tinned turtle."

MUSIC AND ARTS Isabella was a highly skilled pianist. She likely enjoyed attending cultural events during her time in Germany.

LITERATURE  Less than a year after marrying Samuel, Isabella was wielding a pen for one of his magazines, The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine. Now, truth be told, Isabella wasn't exactly above borrowing recipes – heavily borrowing, that is. But hey, plagiarism was practically a parlour game for Victorian writers!

In 1859, the Beetons launched a series of supplements for the magazine, which eventually morphed into the legendary Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management. Published in 1861, it flew off the shelves faster than a hot crumpet at a vicar's tea party. The book, a comprehensive guide to running a Victorian household, from whipping up a stew to managing the staff (who you probably weren't paying nearly enough), cemented Isabella Beeton's name in domestic history.

Title page of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management

NATURE Isabella enjoyed country walks and the outdoors when she had the opportunity.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Isabella pursued domestic hobbies such as cooking, sewing, and gardening.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Isabella applied practical knowledge of science and mathematics to her household management advice.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Isabella's writing often reflected Victorian values and morality, influenced by her Christian upbringing.

SCANDAL There were no notable scandals associated with Isabella Beeton.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Isabella's health was generally robust, although she tragically died at a young age.

HOMES Born in London, Isabella lived there until her family's move to Epsom, Surrey, following her mother's remarriage. The Dorling household in Epsom was large and bustling, with a significant number of siblings.

After marrying Samuel Beeton, the couple resided at 2 Chandos Villas, a large Italianate house in Pinner, Middlesex.

TRAVEL Isabella's most notable travel experience was her time spent at a finishing school in Heidelberg, Germany. This exposure likely broadened her horizons and influenced her education in languages, music, and pastry-making.

DEATH Isabella Beeton died tragically young at the age of 28 on February 6, 1865, in Swanscombe, England. The cause of death is believed to be puerperal fever, a common childbirth complication in the Victorian era.

Isabella Beeton is buried in West Norwood Cemetery, located in Lambeth, London. Her grave is shared with her husband Samuel Orchart Beeton and their two eldest sons who died in infancy. The existing tombstone was erected in the 1930s by their surviving children, replacing the original stone that had fallen into disrepair.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Several biographies and documentaries delve into Isabella Beeton's life and the lasting impact of her book. Her story has also captured the imagination of fiction writers, leading to portrayals in various media formats.

ACHIEVEMENTS Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management remains a cornerstone of culinary and domestic history. Its influence on Victorian society and subsequent generations is undeniable.

The book's format established a new genre of comprehensive household manuals, offering practical advice on everything from cooking and cleaning to etiquette and childcare.

Isabella Beeton's name became synonymous with domestic expertise, a testament to her editorial skills and the enduring popularity of her book.

Ludwig van Beethoven

NAME Ludwig Van Beethoven

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Renowned composer and pianist of the classical and early romantic eras, known for his symphonies, piano sonatas, and chamber music.

BIRTH  The bonnie baby Beethoven was born at Bonngasse 20, Bonn  There is no actual record of Beethoven's birth. He is traditionally assumed to have been born on December 16, 1770 because his baptism was recorded as taking place on the following day, but the real natal date and hour are unknown. As an adult, Beethoven considered himself to be two years younger than his given age and obstinately evaded the question of his birth date.

FAMILY BACKGROUND If you met a woman who was pregnant, and she had eight children already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis; would you recommend that she have an abortion? If you said yes, you just killed Beethoven.

Ludwig's father was Johann Van Beethoven (1740-1792), a tenor singer in the service of the elector of Cologne. His grandfather was also a musician. His father declined into drinking and as a result young Ludwig's family became steadily poorer.

Ludwig's mother Magdalena Kevrich van Beethoven (1740-1792) was the daughter of a cook with massive self-confidence. Beethoven considered his mother to be his best friend.

Ludwig had three brothers, one, an older brother with the same name died in infancy. Ludwig lived in his shadow. Beethoven's mother died when he was 17, and for several years he was responsible for raising his two younger brothers.

CHILDHOOD At the age of five, Ludwig's ambitious father, who was pushier than a snowplough, made him practice the violin for hours. By the age of eight he was playing concerts and three years later he was the Deputy Organist at court of Elector of Cologne at Bonn. 

Ludwig published his first composition and composed three sonatas aged thirteen. At the age of fourteen he met Mozart in Vienna who said "Watch this young man. He is going to cause a stir in the world."(1) Mozart proceeded (in 1787) to give him a few lessons in composition.

A portrait of the 13-year-old Beethoven by an unknown Bonn master (c. 1783)

EDUCATION Ludwig had only meagre academic schooling and early on made a poor impression on his music teachers. 

At home, his father gave him a thorough musical training when young in the hope of exhibiting him as an infant prodigy. He studied the piano, violin and French horn. 

Beethoven's father removed him at the age of eleven from school to concentrate on a musical career. He was sent to Vienna in 1791 originally to study with his old mentor, Mozart but his death forced a change of plan. Instead he had music lessons from Haydn from whom he learnt composition and harmony, but who failed to recognise young Ludwig’s genius.

CAREER RECORD Beethoven was the first ever full time composer. The broadening market for published music enabled him to succeed as a freelance composer, a path that Mozart a decade earlier had found full of frustration.

Typically, he would get up at dawn and promptly start composing until dinner at 2pm. Beethoven liked to work for long stretches without a break to let his thoughts develop and flow.

1778 Introduced as a prodigy. Became a court organist before he was 12.
1789 Due to his father's alcoholism, he began to support his family as a court musician.
1791 Went to Vienna to study under Haydn and became a freelance composer. He later claimed "he had never learned anything from Haydn."
1795 First public performance in Vienna.

APPEARANCE Beethoven was a short man, 5' 3¾" (1.62 m) with sallow complexion due to jaundice. His brown hair was thick and bushy (afro style). Many people looking at his portrait have assumed he is of African origin. He wore glasses.

Beethoven with the manuscript of the Missa solemnis (1820)

FASHION An untidy dresser, Beethoven had strange personal habits such as wearing filthy clothing while washing compulsively. He was unconcerned about his tramp like appearance and had such a disregard for personal cleanliness that his friends had to take away his dirty clothes and wash them whilst he slept. But it would be stretching things to say Beethoven was an influence on grunge musicians.

CHARACTER A typical flawed genius, Van the man had an overbearing and quarrelsome, fiery and gruff nature. Often rude and impatient, he could be impetuous, self willed and boorish. 

Haydn, when teaching him, was irritated by his overbearing personality and nicknamed him "The Great Mogu." The German poet Goethe was more of a fan, he saw him as "an utterly untamed personality". He went on to say "A more self contained, energetic, sincere artist I never saw."

Beethoven quarrelled, often bitterly, with his relatives and others, and frequently behaved badly to other people

SENSE OF HUMOUR Not a lot. For instance once performing a new Piano concerto at the Theatre Anderwien. Beethoven forgot he was the soloist and began to conduct. He threw his arms with such force he knocked down the lights on the piano. Two choirboys were summoned to hold the lights. A little later he produced another dramatic gesture that hit one of the boys who was so frightened he dropped the light. Mad at the audiences laughter, Beethoven struck the piano with such force that he broke six strings. What a strop.

Beethoven could be sarcastic. When he heard a friend's opera for the first time, he joked "I liked your opera, I think I will put it to music."

Also when walking with Goethe, who was constantly being pestered by greetings from other people, Beethoven remarked, "Do not let that trouble your excellency. Perhaps the greetings are intended for me."

RELATIONSHIPS As a young man Beethoven was a bit of a rake, quite a flirt, but girls tended to turn down his overtures. Most of his romantic evenings had the sensuous promise of a date at the sewage works. 

Though often in love, he never got married. Although reports circulated among Beethoven's friends that he was constantly in love, he tended to choose unattainable women, who were aristocratic or married or both. 

The one person to reciprocate his declarations, the "Immortal Beloved" was one Antonie Brentano who was married to a Frankfurt merchant and a mother of four. In his letter to the "Immortal Beloved" (presumably never sent and now dated at 1812), he expressed his conflicting feelings for Antonie Beethoven's conscience prevented him pursuing the relationship. 

An 1808 portrait of Antonie Brentano by Joseph Karl Stieler

A period of low productivity from about 1812 to 1816 is thought by some scholars to have been the result of depression, resulting from Beethoven's realisation that he would never marry.

In 1815, on the death of his older brother, Casper Carl, Beethoven devoted his emotional energies to a costly legal struggle with his sister-in-law for custody of her 9-year-old son Karl. The mother received a temporarily favourable ruling, and only the intervention in 1820 of Beethoven's most powerful patron, the Archduke Rudolph, won the composer custody of his nephew. Beethoven was not an ideal parent and Karl, grew up to be unstable and graceless rejecting the love (but not the money) that his uncle gave him. The enormous friction that developed between the two, contributed to Karl's attempted suicide in 1826.

Though he had many friends, especially after his deafness came on, Beethoven seemed to be a lonely man.

MONEY AND FAME Originally Beethoven was most famous for tinkling the ivories as a pianist, especially for his improvising skills. Only later in his life was he hailed as a great composer as well. 

The German composer was a big spender and gave away lots of money. Despite being a big note in Vienna his last years were blighted by financial problems and he died in poverty. The London Philharmonic Society sent £100 to Beethoven when he was on his deathbed.

INTERESTS FOOD AND DRINK Fond of coffee, the fastidious composer once disclosed he requires precisely 60 beans to make a cup of his favorite hot drink.

Beethoven liked good wine, consuming a bottle with every meal, often in the Greek Tavern in Vienna. A near alcoholic in his later years, on his deathbed he spluttered "Wine is both necessary and good for me."

MUSIC AND ARTS Da da da daa. Beethoven played the harpsichord and violin from a young age. However his own principle instrument was the pianoforte, which he was known to play the piano with such force that the strings would snap. After 1805 he performed in public rarely because of his increasing deafness and he made his last performance in 1814.

The German composer was an admirer of Handel. He said "Handel was the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb."

The first ever full time composer, Beethoven usually worked on several compositions at once. a perfectionist, he always struggled to achieve the rightness present in his music; sometimes altered a passage as many as 20 times.

Beethoven was perhaps the first composer to use brass instruments as part of the orchestral texture of a composition; they had previously been used only at special moments where they would stand out, or as solo instruments.

Here's a bit of trivia: Beethoven often poured ice water over his head when he sat down to compose , believing it stimulated his brain.

Here's some of his major works with links to Songfacts when applicable

1795 "Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major" This was an important display piece for the young German composer. Beethoven was the soloist at its premiere on March 29, 1795, at Vienna's Burgtheater in a concert marking his public debut. Prior to that, he had performed only in the private salons of the Viennese nobility.

1802 "Moonlight Sonata" Written whilst suffering from unrequited love, it was called "Moonlight" as a publisher described it like "a boat passing the wild scenery of Lake Lucerne in the moonlight", otherwise it would be called the slightly less romantic "Piano Sonata in C Minor op 27 no 2."
Beethoven always considered his "Moonlight" sonata to be inferior to many of his other works for piano, even though it became enormously popular.

1804 "3rd Symphony (Eroica)" Originally called Bonaparte as tribute to Napoleon, the First Consul. However, when Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor in 1804 the disillusioned Beethoven tore up the pages of his score in a rage, stamped on it and changed it to Eroica (meaning heroic). Innovative in length and size of orchestra, the symphony was a radical departure from anything written up until that time. However, it was difficult for the audience to understand and many critics criticised the first movement for its dissonant chords.

When informed of the death of Napoleon on May 5, 1821, Beethoven said, "I wrote the music for this sad event seventeen years ago," referring to the funereal second movement.

1807 Ludwig van Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86 was commissioned by Prince Nikolaus II Esterházy, a member of the Hungarian nobility and a patron of the arts, for the annual name day celebration of his wife, Princess Maria Josepha Hermenegild. Beethoven began work on the mass in early 1807 and completed it by the summer. Unlike the more traditional and grandiose settings of the mass typical of the Esterházy court, Beethoven's composition was more subdued and introspective, reflecting his unique approach to the form.

The premiere took place on September 13, 1807 at the Bergkirche (the Castle Church) in Eisenstadt, where the Esterházy family traditionally held their name day celebrations. Prince Nikolaus II was reportedly disappointed with Beethoven’s new work. According to Beethoven’s friend and biographer, Ferdinand Ries, the Prince expressed his displeasure by saying, “But, my dear Beethoven, what have you done here again?” This comment likely reflects the Prince’s expectation for a mass in the style of Haydn's more celebratory and ornate compositions, rather than the more reserved and solemn style Beethoven chose.

1808 "5th Symphony" The one with the Da da da daa bit -those famous opening bars are Morse for "V" for victory. Beethoven described the start of this symphony as "death knocking upon the door". Its premiere in Vienna featured the first ever known use of trombone in an orchestra. The work was dedicated to Prince Lobkowitz and Count Raswnovsky and it’s theme was of an individual overcoming all the trials that fate can bring.

1808 "Pastoral (6th) Symphony" Beethoven was a lover of nature who spent a great deal of his time on walks in the country. Unusually cast in five movements, the last three of which flow freely into one another, this symphony represents Beethoven's ultimate response to nature. He was, however, not the first composer of his time to depict nature symphonically uses evocative sounds to tell a particular journey.
The Shepherd Song from this was voted # 5 in the 100 Best Tunes on Radio 2 - back in 1993.

Beethoven premiered his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies on December 22, 1808, at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. During the same concert, he also introduced his Fourth Piano Concerto, performing it himself, as well as the Choral Fantasy, with him at the piano.

 A depiction of Ludwig van Beethoven's legendary concert on December 22, 1808, 

1810 "Für Elise" This piano piece was composed by Beethoven on April 27, 1810, and dedicated by him to Therese Malfatti (1792–1851), with whom he was in love. But the publisher misread Beethoven’s untidy scrawl of "Fur Teresa" and to this day it's known as "Für Elise."

1811 Beethoven's iconic Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, affectionately known as the "Emperor Concerto," was composed between 1809 and 1811 in Vienna. It was premiered on November 28, 1811, at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, with Friedrich Schneider as the soloist.  Beethoven, usually the soloist, could not perform due to declining hearing.

1814 Fidelio Beethoven's only opera, it was actually first produced in a three-act version at Vienna's Theater an Der Wien, on November 20, 1805. The composer kept fiddling with Fidelio until the performance at the Kärntnertortheater on May 23, 1814. Incidentally a 17-year-old Franz Schubert was in the audience, having sold his school books to obtain a ticket. The opera tells the story of a wife who dressed as a female jailer so she could join her husband in prison.

1824 "Ode to Joy" This is the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth and last Symphony, when written it was a novel idea to use a chorus and solo voices in the finale. 

Increasingly aware of his declining health, the by now deaf composer spent seven years working on this Symphony. Its tragic that Beethoven never heard a single note of this masterpiece except in his head. When first performed in Vienna on May 7, 1824, there was rapturous applause at the end. The deaf composer had to be physically turned round to face the audience to face the acclaim as he couldn't hear it.

The words, which are sung by four vocal soloists and a chorus, emanate a strong belief in mankind. They were taken from a poem written by German writer Friedrich Schiller in 1785 and revised in 1803, with additions made by Beethoven.

LITERATURE Beethoven was well-read, with a particular interest in Shakespeare and poetry, which inspired many of his compositions. He was also keen on Homer and Indian theology 

 

Beethoven preferred composing. He wrote in an 1820 letter, "I would rather write 10,000 notes than one letter of the alphabet".

In 1802, Beethoven wrote Heiligenstadt and Testament, which was intended for two brothers. In it he rages in despair about his growing deafness. See Health for more

NATURE Beethoven found solace in nature, often taking long walks in the countryside around Vienna for inspiration. He carried a notebook with him to jot down ideas for his compositions.

When Beethoven's dog, Grigons vanished Beethoven complained "I miss him in my loneliness."

HOBBIES AND SPORTS  Beethoven was an avid billiards player and enjoyed outdoor activities like horseback riding.

David Broome won the 1970 show jumping world title on a horse named Beethoven.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Beethoven had a keen interest in science and mathematics, evident in his precise and calculated musical structures.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Despite writing some spiritually uplifting music such as his Mass in D Minor (Missa Solemnis)Beethoven was not a conventional Christian himself. However, he considered his compositions inspired by God.

SCANDAL Beethoven's personal life was marked by romantic disappointments and family disputes.

In the Winter of 1822-23, the Philharmonic Society of London advanced Beethoven £50 for a new symphony. However it was not until its first performance in Vienna on May 7, 1824 that the score reached London when to the society's surprise they found that Beethoven's "9th Symphony" was dedicated not to them back to the King of Prussia. However the forgiving Philharmonic Society did later send £100 for Beethoven's relief during the last months of his life.

MILITARY RECORD  Beethoven briefly served in the local militia during Napoleon's siege of Vienna in 1809.

The opening of Beethoven's Fifth symphony was later used as a signature piece for the Allies during World War 2 since the notes unintentionally were Morse Code for the letter "V" (for "Victory").

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Beethoven suffered from jaundice, but his main affliction was deafness. Originally in his late twenties it was an occasional loss of hearing, which developed into a constant ringing in his ears. Signs of his growing lack of sense of hearing threw him into a dire depression and made him contemplate suicide. 

In 1802, in Beethoven's celebrated Heiligenstadt Testament, a quasi-legal letter to his two brothers, he expressed his agony over his growing loss of hearing. 

His deafness was rendered more severe by cold baths, blister treatments and sharp ear trumpets strapped to his head. By 1814 however, Beethoven was almost totally deaf with a constant ringing in his ears. 

For the last ten years of his life he could only communicate with guests by means of conversation books in which visitors write their remarks to him. 

Despite being aurally disadvantaged many of his greatest works were written in his last 10 years when he was completely deaf. (You'd have thought a deaf composer would have been as much use as a steeplejack with vertigo). He was aided by placing a stick on the top of his piano and biting on it, which helped him to "hear" a little.

HOMES Beethoven was born at the 16th century building, Bonngasse 20a in Bonn. It is now a Beethoven museum. (see below) 

By Sir James - Own work, Wikipedia

In March 1787 Beethoven traveled to Vienna, apparently in the hope of studying with Wolfgang Mozart. It is not known whether or not they actually met. After just two weeks there Beethoven learned that his mother was severely ill, and he was forced to return home. His mother died shortly thereafter, and his father lapsed deeper into alcoholism. As a result, Beethoven became responsible for the care of his two younger brothers, and he spent the next five years in Bonn. He finally left Bonn for Vienna in November 1792, This move was motivated by his desire to study composition with Joseph Haydn, one of the greatest composers of the time.

The journey occurred amid the backdrop of heightened political and military tensions in Europe. The French Revolutionary Wars were escalating, and there were fears that the conflict might spread further into German-speaking territories, including Bonn. Beethoven's patron, Elector Maximilian Franz, likely encouraged him to leave for Vienna, both to pursue his artistic development and possibly to shield him from the uncertainties of the brewing conflict.

This move ultimately marked the beginning of Beethoven’s transformation into one of the most celebrated composers in history. It was in Vienna that he solidified his reputation, even though his lessons with Haydn were reportedly fraught with tension. 

By 1800 Beethoven settled into a pattern of shifting residences. He habitually spent the summer in the Viennese suburbs to get away from the adoring masses and his creditors —Heiligenstadt was a favourite choice—and moved back to the central city in the autumn. He moved 79 times occupying 44 dwellings in 35 years in Vienna. 

The state in which he generally kept his rooms gave this landlords good cause for grievance. They were littered with partly eaten meals and unemptied chamber pots.

TRAVEL Beethoven traveled extensively within Europe, performing and seeking patronage for his compositions.

If Beethoven was ever in Venice in his last 15 years, then he would have been deaf in Venice (joke)...

DEATH Beethoven died on March 26, 1827 aged 57, in Vienna. It was a slow agonising death. during a thunderstorm, having been bedridden for several months. It is said on his deathbed he said, "Applaud my friends the comedy is over." quoting the dying Augustus as he shook his fist at a thunderstorm. 

His last words were "I shall hear in Heaven."

An autopsy revealed significant liver damage, which may have been due to heavy alcohol consumption. 

There is dispute about the cause of Beethoven's death; alcoholic cirrhosis, syphilis, infectious hepatitis, lead poisoning have all been proposed.

An estimated 20,000 people stood in reverence as his funeral bier passed through the streets of Vienna - Schubert was one of the pallbearers. Soldiers were needed to control grief stricken crowds. After nine priests blessed his body, he was buried in a grave marked by a simple pyramid that read simply, "Beethoven".

He was buried in Vienna's Zentral Friedhof General Cemetery.

In 1994 two collectors paid £4,000 for a four inch long lock of Beethoven's hair.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA 1. Amongst the movies about Beethoven are

1985 Beethoven's Nephew In which Beethoven played by Wolfgang Pechmann struggles to tame his (yes) nephew.

1989 Beethoven played by Clifford David was a passenger of Bill and Ted in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.

1994 Immortal Beloved The story follows Beethoven's secretary and first biographer, Anton Schindler, as he attempts to ascertain the true identity of the Immortal Beloved addressed in three letters found in the late composer's private papers. Beethoven is played by Gary Oldman. 

2006 Copying Beethoven, starring Ed Harris as the composer. This film is a fictionalized account of Beethoven's last days, and his struggle to produce his Ninth Symphony before he died.

The 1992 film Beethoven is about a St Bernard dog who apart from being named after the composer, has nothing to do with him.

2. Beethoven is much quoted in popular music - "Roll Over Beethoven" was a hit for both Chuck Berry and Electric Light Orchestra . A more funky interpreter was Walter Murphy who had a # 1 US hit with "A Fifth of Beethoven," a disco version of Beethoven's yep Fifth Symphony. Also check out "Beethoven (I Love to Listen to)" by the Eurythmics.

3. Beethoven's Sixth Symphony was famously used in a Blue Band Magazine advert and his ninth Symphony in a Pirelli Tyres commercial

4. Beethoven's biggest critic is Lucy in the Peanuts cartoon strip, as she tries to win the heart of her beloved piano player, Schroeder, who is the composer's number one fan. Lucy tries to batter the reputation of Beethoven to make Schroeder interested in others eg her.

ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Beethoven was influential in development of symphony and expanded the horizons of orchestra music. He pushed boundaries in all music's parameters melodic, harmonic, rhythmic.

2. Introduced the trombone to the orchestra.

3. The first important composer to earn his living solely from public concerts and copies of his compositions without getting a patron. Though he could have done with one.

4 Possibly the greatest composer in the western tradition.

5.. In a poll of over a million music lovers, Beethoven was voted Britain's second favorite classical composer of the past Millennium and his Ninth Symphony the third favorite classical piece of the last millennium.

1. The Faber Book of Anecdotes by Clifton Fadiman.
2. James Galway's Music in Time.
3. Wikipedia.

Lyman Beecher

NAME Lyman Beecher

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Lyman Beecher was one of the most powerful and influential Puritan preachers of his generation in the United States. He was known for his fiery sermons against social vices, including drunkenness, Catholicism, and religious tolerance. He also played a significant role in the Second Great Awakening and was a leader in the temperance movement.

BIRTH Lyman Beecher was born on October 12, 1775, in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Lyman came from a family with Puritan roots. His father, David Beecher, was a blacksmith. The Beecher family had strong religious convictions, which deeply influenced Lyman's upbringing and his later life as a preacher.

His mother, Esther Burr, was the daughter of a respected minister. She died shortly after giving birth to Lyman, and he was committed to the care of his uncle Lot Benton.

CHILDHOOD Lyman was raised on a farm by his uncle Lot Benton, who adopted him after his mother's death. He was brought up in a modest, pious household, he absorbed the values of hard work and faith from an early age.

EDUCATION Beecher attended Yale University, where he studied theology under the famous preacher Timothy Dwight. He graduated in 1797 and was later ordained as a minister, setting the stage for his long career as a preacher.

CAREER RECORD Lyman Beecher began his ministerial career in 1798 in East Hampton, Long Island, where he gained prominence for his sermons. His resume reads:

Pastor at East Hampton, Long Island (1799-1810)

Pastor at Litchfield, Connecticut (1810-1826)

Pastor at Hanover Street Church, Boston (1826-1832)

President of Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati (1832-1850)

Pastor at Second Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati (1832-1842)

He later moved to churches in Litchfield, Connecticut, and Boston. 

Beecher's most significant work came in Cincinnati, where he devoted his later years to preaching to pioneers and holding revival meetings. His opposition to alcoholism, Catholicism, and religious tolerance marked his sermons, and he also became involved in establishing schools and churches in the western frontier.

APPEARANCE Beecher was described as having a strong, rugged appearance with sharp features. His eyes were often noted for their intensity, reflecting his passion for his religious beliefs. He had a strong, resonant voice that was well-suited for public speaking.

Portrait of Lyman Beecher by James Henry Beard, 1842

FASHION As a preacher, Beecher wore the traditional clerical garments of his time, including a black coat, white cravat, and dark trousers.. His fashion choices reflected the simplicity and modesty that was characteristic of Puritan values.

CHARACTER Beecher was known for his fiery, passionate character. His sermons were forceful and often controversial, as he was unafraid to take strong positions on moral and social issues. His intensity was a defining trait, both in the pulpit and in his personal life.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Beecher, despite his intense nature, had a sharp wit. His sense of humor often showed itself in his interactions with family and colleagues, though it was not a dominant aspect of his public persona.

RELATIONSHIPS Lyman was married three times and was the father of 13 children, many of whom became writers or ministers.

First marriage: In 1799, Beecher married Roxana Foote, the daughter of Eli and Roxana (Ward) Foote. They had nine children together. including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Ward Beecher and Catharine Beecher. Roxana died of tuberculosis on September 13, 1816. 

Beecher with Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher, taken sometime after 1858.

Second marriage: In 1817, Beecher married Harriet Porter. They had four children together. Harriet died on July 7, 1835. 

Third marriage: On September 23, 1836, Beecher married Lydia Beals, who was previously married to Joseph Jackson. Lydia and Beecher had no children together. Lydia lived from 1789 to 1869. 

MONEY AND FAME Beecher was famous for his preaching and involvement in social causes, but his wealth remained modest. His fame, however, grew, especially with his involvement in the Second Great Awakening and his leadership in religious and educational movements.

FOOD AND DRINK Beecher was known for his strong opposition to alcohol, and his involvement in the temperance movement was a key aspect of his public life. He advocated for total abstinence from alcohol and condemned drunkenness in his sermons.

MUSIC AND ARTS  Beecher had a fondness for playing the violin. After preaching, which often left him in an excited state, he would relax by playing "Auld Lang Syne" on the violin

Surprisingly for a minister of his time, Beecher was known to dance the "double shuffle" in his parlor as a form of relaxation after preaching.

LITERATURE Beecher was an avid reader of theological and philosophical works. He was a prolific writer, publishing sermons and pamphlets on religious and social issues. His children, particularly Harriet Beecher Stowe, would also become prominent writers.

Beecher is featured in biographies about his life and work, particularly in the context of his role in the Second Great Awakening, the temperance movement, and his opposition to Catholicism. Some biographies also focus on the broader Beecher family, exploring their collective influence on American religion, literature, and social reform. They include:

The Beecher Preachers (1951) by Clifford E. Clark highlights Lyman Beecher and his sons, particularly Henry Ward Beecher, as influential Protestant ministers.

Lyman Beecher: A Biography was written by his son, Charles Beecher, giving an insider perspective on his life, theology, and career.

NATURE Beecher believed in the natural world as a reflection of God's creation. 

SCIENCE AND MATHS Beecher was interested in the natural sciences and believed that they could be used to support religious beliefs. 

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Lyman Beecher adhered to Calvinist theology but was an advocate of a more moderate form of it. He believed in the importance of personal piety and moral reform, and he was a key figure in promoting revivalism and evangelicalism in the United States. His theological outlook was characterized by a strong opposition to Catholicism, religious tolerance, and social vices.

POLITICS Beecher was politically conservative, aligning himself with causes that upheld the traditional Protestant values of the time. He was also a vocal critic of slavery and a supporter of the abolitionist movement.

SCANDAL Lyman Beecher was involved in a significant scandal related to his anti-Catholic rhetoric and a broader controversy over his strong positions on religious tolerance and temperance. His outspoken opposition to Catholicism made him a polarizing figure, and his sermons stoked tensions between Protestants and Catholics in the United States during a time of rising immigration from predominantly Catholic countries.

One notable scandal was linked to his involvement in the 1834 Ursuline Convent riots in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Beecher had delivered a series of fiery anti-Catholic sermons shortly before a mob attacked and burned down a Catholic convent. While Beecher was not directly involved in the riot, many believed his inflammatory rhetoric contributed to the atmosphere of religious intolerance that led to the violence. This incident tarnished his reputation among Catholics and more tolerant religious communities, though it solidified his standing with like-minded Protestants.

Additionally, his family was no stranger to scandal. His son, Henry Ward Beecher, was involved in a highly publicized adultery scandal later in his life. Though this did not directly implicate Lyman Beecher, it did draw attention to the Beecher family as a whole and led to public scrutiny.

MILITARY RECORD Beecher did not serve in the military, though he lived through significant conflicts like the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Beecher lived a long life, passing away at the age of 87. He maintained good physical health for much of his life but around his 80th year, Beecher's intellectual powers began to decline, while his physical strength remained unabated.

About his eightieth year, he suffered a stroke of paralysis and after the stroke, his mental powers only occasionally showed glimpses of their former strength.

HOMES Beecher lived in various locations during his life, starting in Connecticut and then moving to Ohio, where he spent his later years in Cincinnati, preaching to pioneers and helping establish schools and churches. 

In 1852, he moved to Brooklyn to live with his son Henry Ward Beecher and he spent his final years living with his children.

TRAVEL Beecher traveled frequently as part of his ministry, moving from his early work in Connecticut to Boston and then to Cincinnati, where he spent much of his later career.

DEATH Lyman Beecher died on January 10, 1863, in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 87 after spending the last years of his life with his children. He was buried at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Though Lyman Beecher himself hasn’t been portrayed extensively in films or TV, he is often mentioned in documentaries or dramas about the Beecher family.

Documentaries about Harriet Beecher Stowe often reference Lyman as a formative influence on her abolitionist and religious views. His strict Calvinism and evangelical activism helped shape the moral outlook of his children.

Miniseries or TV adaptations of Uncle Tom’s Cabin or stories about Henry Ward Beecher occasionally reference their father, Lyman, as the patriarch whose moral and religious teachings guided their careers.

ACHIEVEMENTS Beecher’s achievements include his leadership in the temperance movement, his role in the Second Great Awakening, and his significant influence on American Protestantism. He also  raised a family of influential children, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Henry Ward Beecher

NAME: Henry Ward Beecher

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent 19th-century clergyman, social reformer, and abolitionist known for his powerful oratory skills and progressive views on social issues, including abolitionism and women's suffrage.

BIRTH: Henry Ward Beecher was born on June 24, 1813, in Litchfield, Connecticut, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: He was the son of noted minister Lyman Beecher and Roxana Foote. Henry Beecher was a revered Presbyterian minister known for his conservative views. Henry was the eighth of 13 children, the brother of several notable figures, including author Harriet Beecher Stowe and educator Catherine Beecher. 

CHILDHOOD: Details of Henry's childhood are somewhat limited. Growing up in a large family with a domineering father likely instilled both a sense of discipline and a desire to stand out. 

Henry had a childhood stammer and was considered slow-witted; 

EDUCATION: Henry attended various local schools with little distinction. His less than stellar performance at Biston Latin school earned him punishments such as being forced to sit for hours in the girls' corner wearing a dunce cap.

He enrolled in Amherst College in 1830. While not a stellar student academically, he honed his oratory skills and emerged as a charismatic leader.

CAREER RECORD: Henry Ward Beecher's career was primarily centered around his role as a minister. Here's his resume: 

Began his ministry at a Presbyterian church in Indiana (1832)

Became pastor of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York (1847) – this pulpit launched him into national prominence

Championed the abolitionist movement, raising funds and advocating for social justice

Traveled to England during the Civil War to garner support for the Union cause

Faced a highly publicized adultery trial in 1875, ultimately acquitted by a jury

APPEARANCE: Henry was described as tall well built man.  He possessed a charismatic smile and expressive eyes that captivated audiences. 

Henry Ward Beecher. Library of Congress

FASHION: He dressed in a manner befitting his status as a prominent clergyman, often wearing conservative and formal attire.

CHARACTER: Henry was known for his charisma, compassion, and progressive views on social issues. He could be both compassionate and fiercely critical, depending on the cause. Beecher was also considered a controversial figure due to his outspoken stance on topics such as abolitionism and women's rights.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: A hallmark of Beecher's preaching style was his use of humor. He incorporated anecdotes, witticisms, and even slang to make his sermons engaging and relatable for a broad audience.

RELATIONSHIPS: Henry married Eunice Bullard White on August 3, 1837. The couple had several children, but their relationship was reportedly strained at times. The public scandal surrounding the adultery trial undoubtedly cast a shadow over his family life.

Henry Ward Beecher had a close relationship with his family, particularly his sister Harriet Beecher Stowe, with whom he collaborated on various social causes.

MONEY AND FAME: Henry achieved both wealth and fame through his successful career as a minister and public speaker.

In 1847, he landed the top job at the gargantuan Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, and let's just say the pews weren't exactly gathering dust. Thousands flocked to hear Beecher's booming sermons, making him a celebrity preacher long before the invention of televangelism.

FOOD AND DRINK: While not a focal point of his public persona, Henry likely enjoyed traditional New England fare and participated in social dining occasions.

MUSIC AND ARTS: He appreciated the arts and often used cultural references in his sermons to connect with his congregation.

Beecher gets a gold star for accidentally coining a famous advertising slogan. A marketing whiz named Thomas J. Barrett wanted a quote from a prominent figure to promote cleanliness. Beecher, ever the helpful soul, obliged, starting his endorsement with, "If cleanliness is next to godliness..."  Barrett, bless his penny-pinching heart, just thanked him and skipped the whole payment thing.  Hey, free advertising is still good advertising, right Henry?

LITERATURE: Beyond religious texts, Beecher likely read widely, staying informed on current events and social issues.  

Henry Ward Beecher was a prolific writer, publishing numerous sermons, essays, and books on religion, ethics, and social reform.

When wasn't exactly composing fire-and-brimstone sermons, Beecher was getting his ink-stained fingers working – editing an agricultural journal called The Farmer and Gardener. 

Beecher wasn't content to just be a midwestern dirt chronicler, though. He set his sights on the big leagues – the New York Independent, a Congregationalist newspaper. He became one of the founding fathers (figuratively, of course) and spent nearly two decades as a key contributor, even serving as editor for a stint.  His musings were signed with a little asterisk, a fancy way of saying "look at me, I wrote this!"  These starred gems were later collected into a book called Star Papers; or, Experiences of Art and Nature."

The publishing bug bit Beecher good.  In 1865, a newspaper bigwig named Robert E. Bonner came knocking, dangling a hefty sum of cash –  $24,000! – to follow in his sister's footsteps and write a novel.  Beecher, ever the opportunist (and maybe needing a break from all that theology), churned out a story called Norwood, or Village Life in New England.

In 1871, Beecher decided to tackle the ultimate biography – the life and times of Jesus Christ, himself.  The result? Life of Jesus, the Christ.

Amongst the many thought-provoking quotes in Beecher's Life Thoughts was, “There are many people who think that Sunday is a sponge to wipe out all the sins of the week.”

NATURE: Henry valued nature and often used natural imagery in his writings and speeches to illustrate spiritual truths.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Beyond his professional duties, Henry engaged in intellectual pursuits such as reading and writing.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: While not his primary focus, Henry recognized the importance of scientific knowledge and often sought to reconcile science with faith in his teachings.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Henry Ward Beecher's theological views were shaped by his upbringing in a strict Calvinist household. However, he deviated from the traditional doctrines, emphasizing God's love and forgiveness over punishment and predestination. This progressive and inclusive approach resonated with many and helped propel him to national prominence. Beecher believed in applying Christian principles to social issues, advocating for social justice and reform movements like abolitionism.

Beecher was a champion for all sorts of progressive causes – women's rights, temperance and even the then-controversial theory of evolution. He saw Christianity as a living thing, constantly evolving alongside society, not some dusty old rulebook.

But wait, there's more!  Beecher was a firebrand abolitionist.  He raised money to arm anti-slavery fighters in Kansas and Nebraska, and these rifles became known, with a touch of dark humor, as "Beecher's Bibles." He even held mock auctions where the congregation could "purchase" the freedom of real slaves. 

The most famous of these former slaves was a young girl named Pinky, auctioned during a regular Sunday worship service at Plymouth on February 5, 1860. A collection taken up that day raised $900 to buy Pinky from her owner. Imagine a Sunday service turning into a dramatic emancipation event – talk about a powerful message!

SCANDAL:  In 1875, Beecher was embroiled in a juicy adultery trial, accused of having a little too much love on the side with a friend's wife. The subsequent trial resulted in a hung jury and was one of the most widely reported trials of the century. The Beecher-Tilton scandal tarnished his squeaky-clean preacher image.

MILITARY RECORD: Henry Ward Beecher did not serve in the military.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Henry struggled with health issues throughout his life, including bouts of depression and other ailments.

Beecher had a thing for jewels. Not fancy rings or cufflinks, mind you, but loose gemstones he'd carry around in his pockets.  Apparently, they were his comfort objects, a preacher's equivalent of a stress ball. Who knew saving souls could be so…geologically soothing?

HOMES: Throughout his life, Beecher resided in various locations as his career progressed. Early on, he lived in Indiana and Ohio while serving as a pastor at Presbyterian churches.  

However, his most significant residence was in Brooklyn, New York. From 1847 onwards, he served as the pastor of Plymouth Church, a position that placed him at the center of American social and religious discourse. This Brooklyn pulpit became his home base for decades, witnessing his rise to national fame and the later controversies that surrounded him.

TRAVEL: Beecher wasn't a stationary preacher. He actively traveled throughout the United States, using his powerful oratory skills to promote abolitionism and social reform. He rallied audiences in various cities, raising awareness and funds for the anti-slavery movement. Notably, during the Civil War, Beecher undertook a crucial mission to England.  His persuasive speeches and advocacy helped garner international support for the Union cause. This transatlantic travel played a significant role in influencing public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic.

DEATH: Beecher suffered a stroke and passed away in his sleep two days later on March 8, 1887. Brooklyn, still an independent city, declared a day of mourning. He is interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: While Beecher himself wouldn't have appeared in media of his time, his life and controversies have likely been explored in various formats over the years. Documentaries focusing on the history of abolitionism or 19th-century religious figures might feature him. Historical fiction novels or stage plays set during that era could also portray him as a character.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Henry Ward Beecher's most significant achievements include his role in advancing abolitionism, his promotion of women's suffrage, and his efforts to reconcile Christianity with social justice and reform. His eloquence and charisma made him one of the most influential figures of his era in shaping public opinion on critical social issues.

Catharine Beecher

NAME: Catharine Esther Beecher

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Catharine Beecher was a pioneering educator, writer, and advocate for women's education and domestic reform in 19th-century America.

BIRTH: Catharine Esther Beecher was born on September 6, 1800, in East Hampton, New York, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Catharine came from a prominent and intellectually inclined family. She was the eldest daughter of the famous minister Lyman Beecher and his first wife, Roxana Foote. Her mother instilled strong moral values in her children. Catharine was the eldest of nine children, including her well-known sister, author Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin and the clergyman and social reformer, Henry Ward Beecher. 

CHILDHOOD: Catharine grew up in a stimulating and intellectually rich environment. Her father's role as a minister and her mother's influence likely played a crucial role in shaping her early views on education and reform.

EDUCATION: Catharine was largely educated at home, benefiting from her father's library and his commitment to education. She later attended the Litchfield Female Academy, a progressive school for girls at the time. The limited curriculum available to young women there left Catherine longing for additional opportunities for education.

CAREER RECORD: Catharine Beecher's career was marked by her dedication to education. Here's her resume.

Co-founded the Hartford Female Seminary (1823) with her sister Mary, which offered a more comprehensive curriculum than typical female schools.

Authored influential books on education, including Female Education (1827) and the widely read A Treatise on Domestic Economy (1841).

Founded the American Woman's Educational Association (1852) to address the teacher shortage in frontier regions.

Played a key role in establishing women's colleges in Burlington, Iowa, Quincy, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

APPEARANCE: Catharine was described as having a commanding presence, with a tall and imposing figure.

Catherine Beecher

FASHION: She was known for her simple and practical sense of fashion, preferring attire that reflected her commitment to practicality and modesty.

CHARACTER: Catharine Beecher was characterized by her strong will, intelligence, and dedication to advancing women's rights and educational opportunities. She was also described as forthright and opinionated, a trait that sometimes caused controversy.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Although her public image was serious and focused, it is suggested that she possessed a dry wit and keen sense of humor.

RELATIONSHIPS: Catharine Beecher was all set to tie the knot with Yale professor Alexander M. Fisher. Unfortunately, fate (or perhaps a particularly rogue wave) intervened. Professor Fisher took a permanent leave of absence via a shipwreck off the Irish coast in 1822, leaving Catharine a jilted bride-to-be.  She channelled her romantic disappointment into a lifelong mission of empowering women through education, never walking down the aisle but leaving a much bigger mark on the world.

She had a close bond with her family members, particularly her siblings, including Harriet Beecher Stowe.

MONEY AND FAME: While Catharine achieved a degree of fame for her educational work, she was not particularly wealthy. Her primary motivation was social reform, not personal gain.

FOOD AND DRINK: Catharine Beecher was interested in the science of nutrition and advocated for healthy eating and cooking practices.

Catharine wasn't above a good experiment, even if it involved subjecting her students to a diet of nothing but Graham flour (think cardboard, but scratchier). Thankfully, these poor girls staged a delicious mutiny in the form of a fancy restaurant dinner. Catharine, a woman of reason (when not fueled by questionable whole grains), saw the error of her ways and upped the culinary ante. From then on, it was probably less cardboard and more apple pie.

MUSIC AND ARTS: She appreciated the arts but was more focused on educational and reformist activities.

LITERATURE: Catharine, ever the prolific pen-wielder, churned out books like a possessed printing press, publishing numerous works on education, domestic science, and women's rights.. Her magnum opus? A Treatise of Domestic Economy, a guide aimed at turning the average American housewife into a domestic dynamo. Now, this tome got a major makeover later on, thanks to a collaboration with her more famous sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe. Together, they rechristened it The American Woman's Home, and it became the ultimate housekeeping bible for generations to come. 

The American Woman's Home, Title Illustration, 1869.

NATURE: Catharine believed in the importance of physical health and often promoted outdoor activities and nature walks for women.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Her focus was primarily on educational pursuits rather than leisure activities.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Catharine emphasized the importance of science and mathematics education for women, believing these subjects to be essential for practical living.

ACTIVISM Catharine Beecher had a plan. A grand, petticoat-ruffling plan to remake the education system, starting with women. After her fiancée shuffled off this mortal coil in a shipwreck she remained single-minded – literally – for the rest of her life.

Her weapon of choice? The Hartford Female Seminary. Picture it: a one-room schoolhouse with a grand total of seven students. Not exactly Hogwarts. But Cathearine, with the tenacity of a bulldog chewing on a brick, turned it into a bustling academy with nearly 100 students in just three years. Talk about exponential growth!

This was just the beginning, folks. Catharine, ever the restless reformer, packed her bags and followed her preacher-man father to the wild frontier (Cincinnati, in this case) to spread the gospel of education. Her target audience? Women stuck in dead-end "feminine" pursuits (fancy embroidery and fainting spells, most likely) and those toiling away in factories. Catharine wasn't a fan of either.

Now, Catharine wasn't all stern lectures and thimbles. She believed in letting kids be kids, which was a radical notion back then. Imagine, children not being miniature adults in itchy breeches! This forward-thinking attitude led her to champion the cause of kindergartens – a revolutionary idea that would have parents across the land cheering (or at least thanking her for keeping their little hellions occupied for a few hours).

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Catharine Beecher's upbringing in a devout Presbyterian household significantly influenced her philosophical and theological views. She believed in the importance of Christian values and saw education as a tool for moral development. Her writings often emphasized the role of women in shaping the moral character of future generations, both within the home and the classroom.

SCANDAL: Catharine Beecher did not have any known scandals associated with her name.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Catherine promoted physical fitness and healthy living, considering these vital for a well-rounded education.

HOMES Throughout her life, Catharine Beecher resided in various locations across the United States.  Early on, she lived with her family in Connecticut and New York.  She also spent time in Ohio while involved in establishing educational institutions there.

TRAVEL Catharine was a dedicated advocate for educational reform and traveled extensively within the United States to promote her ideas. She visited numerous communities, particularly in the frontier regions, to assess educational needs and garner support for establishing schools and teacher training programs.

DEATH Catharine Beecher passed away from apoplexy on May 12, 1878, in Elmira, New York.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA There are no documented film portrayals or direct media appearances by Catharine Beecher herself. However, due to her historical significance in education, her life and work may have been featured in documentaries exploring the history of women's education or 19th-century social reform movements.

ACHIEVEMENTS  Championed Educational Opportunities for Women: Catharine's unwavering dedication led to the expansion of educational opportunities for women, particularly in the field of teaching. She believed education empowered women and prepared them to be valuable contributors to society.

Elevated the Importance of Domestic Skills: While advocating for women's education beyond the home, Catharine also saw the importance of domestic skills. Her book, A Treatise on Domestic Economy, aimed to professionalize homemaking and empower women to manage their households effectively.

Pioneered Kindergartens in the U.S.: Catharine recognized the importance of early childhood education and was a strong proponent of establishing kindergartens in the United States. Her advocacy helped pave the way for the introduction of this crucial educational stage.

Influential Author and Advocate: Catharine authored numerous books and essays that significantly impacted 19th-century American education. Her writings on female education, teacher training, and domesticity shaped public discourse and influenced educational practices of the era.