Chronology

1727 Charlotte Lennox’s father, James Ramsay, captain-lieutenant of Clayton’s Regiment (14th Foot), posted with his regiment to Gibraltar.

1729 James Ramsay transfers to the Coldstream Guards.

c. 1729 Birth of Charlotte Lennox, probably in Gibraltar.

1739 Family moves to New York province after James Ramsay appointed Captain of an Independent Company of Foot.

1742 Death of James Ramsay.

1742–6 Charlotte returns to England, writes poetry and obtains aristocratic patrons (Lady Cecilia Isabella Finch and the Countess of Rockingham).

1747 Marries Alexander Lennox in London, where she lives for the rest of her life. Poems on Several Occasions. Written by a Young Lady.

1748–50 Works as an actress; becomes friends with Samuel Johnson.

1750 The Life of Harriot Stuart, Written by Herself (novel), 2 vols.

1751 Translation work. Writes most of The Female Quixote. Meets and is advised by Samuel Richardson.

1752 13 March, The Female Quixote; or, The Adventures of Arabella published in 2 vols., having been advertised in the Covent-Garden Journal nos. 18, 20, 22 and 24. Probably translates Voltaire’s The Age of Louis XIV. Begins work on Shakespear Illustrated, in collaboration with Johnson and the Earl of Orrery. Proposals for a new edition of her poems.

1753 Shakespear Illustrated, or The Novels and Histories, on which the Plays of Shakespear are founded, Collected and Translated from the Original Authors with Critical Remarks, Vols. I and II, dedication by Johnson. Vol. III published in 1754.

1755 Memoirs of Maximilian de Bethune, Duke of Sully (translation), 3 vols., dedication by Johnson.

1756 The Memoirs of the Countess of Berci (translation), 2 vols.

1757 Memoirs for the History of Madame de Maintenon and of the Last Age (translation), 5 vols; Philander: A Dramatic Pastoral, dedication by Johnson. David Garrick, manager of the Drury Lane Theatre, refuses to stage the play.

1758 Henrietta (novel), 2 vols.

1759–61 Illness, probably caused by overwork. Receives financial assistance from the Duchess of Newcastle. Assisted by Johnson, Orrery and others, translates The Greek Theatre of Father Brumoy, 3 vols (1760). Her periodical the Lady’s Museum runs from March 1760 to February 1761, and includes serialization of a new novel, The History of Harriot and Sophia.

1762 The History of Harriot and Sophia republished separately as Sophia in 2 vols.

1765 Birth of her daughter Harriot Holles.

1766 Probably wrote the novel The History of Eliza.

1769 The Sister (a comedy based on Henrietta; one performance at Covent Garden on 18 February).

1771 Birth of her son George Louis.

c. 1773–4 Unsuccessful attempt to publish an illustrated edition of The Female Quixote by subscription.

1774 Meditations and Penitential Prayers, written by the celebrated Dutchess De La Valliere, Mistress of Lewis the Fourteenth of France (translation).

1775 Unsuccessful attempt to publish an edition of her collected works by subscription (proposals written by Johnson). Old City Manners (a comedy adapted from Eastward Hoe by Jonson, Chapman and Marston; several performances at Drury Lane).

c. 1783–4 Death of Harriot Holles. George Louis gains a literary reputation after the periodical publication of poems and prose fiction.

1790 Euphemia (novel), 4 vols.

1792 Begins to receive financial assistance from the Royal Literary Fund, which continues until her death. Separates from Alexander Lennox at some point prior to this date.

1793 George Louis forced to leave England; emigrates to America.

1793–7 Further unsuccessful attempts to publish by subscription, including a revised edition of Shakespear Illustrated.

1797 The History of Sir George Warrington; or, The Political Quixote, by the Purbeck sisters, erroneously ascribed to Lennox in the first edition.

1804 4 January dies penniless in Dean’s Yard, Westminster.