Elizabeth Drinker
Elizabeth Drinker was a notable figure in 18th-century Philadelphia, known for her detailed diaries that provide insight into the life of an upper-class Quaker woman. Born in 1735, she faced early adversity with the loss of both parents and began chronicling her experiences at the age of twenty-three. Her writings, which total approximately two thousand pages, capture her domestic life, family matters, and the impact of significant events such as the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Drinker married Henry Drinker, a prominent merchant, in 1771, and together they raised nine children, although four did not survive childhood. The couple was active in the Quaker community and became early advocates for abolition, assisting runaway slaves. Their lives reflected a commitment to both family and social justice within the context of their faith. Elizabeth continued her diary until her passing in 1807, leaving behind a rich historical record.
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Subject Terms
Elizabeth Drinker
Nonfiction Writer
- Born: February 27, 1735
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Died: November 24, 1807
- Place of death: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Biography
Elizabeth Drinker, a Philadelphia Quaker, was born in 1735. Both of her parents died when she was very young. Drinker began keeping a daily diary when she was twenty-three years old, chronicling her experiences as an upper-class woman in Philadelphia, including her family affairs, domestic life, and children’s health. She also described the yellow fever epidemic that ravaged the region in 1793. During a period of roughly half a century, she compiled letters, notes, and journal entries that spanned some two thousand pages when reprinted after her death.
She married Henry Drinker, a prominent merchant, in 1771 after a lengthy chronicled courtship. and the two of them lived harmoniously in relatively expensive housing in the city and in a spacious summer home near the rural Frankford countryside. They had nine children, four of whom died during childhood. The Drinkers were actively involved in the Quaker Society of Philadelphia and later in life became early abolitionists who aided runaway slaves at the request of their church. She maintained her diary until her death in Philadelphia in 1807.