Sarah Anne Curzon
Sarah Anne Curzon was a prominent 19th-century writer and women's rights advocate born in 1833 in Birmingham, England. Growing up in an affluent family that prioritized education, she received a distinguished education, showing early talent in poetry. In 1858, she married fellow writer Robert Curzon and moved to Toronto, Canada, where she became an influential figure in various literary circles, including the Toronto Women's Literary Club. Curzon was a prolific contributor to several publications, such as Canadian Monthly and Dominion Illustrated, and she was known for her outspoken views on sexism and her active involvement in the women's suffrage movement.
She founded the Women's Canadian Historical Society and was instrumental in promoting women's education and representation. One of her most notable contributions was her book, "Laura Secord, the Heroine of 1812," which highlighted the life of a significant yet often overlooked Canadian figure from the War of 1812. Curzon's work not only celebrated strong women in history but also played a vital role in shaping the literary heritage of Canada. Her literary career spanned until her death in 1898, leaving a lasting impact on Canadian literature and women's rights.
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Subject Terms
Sarah Anne Curzon
Writer
- Born: 1833
- Birthplace: Birmingham, Warwickshire (now in West Midlands), England
- Died: November 6, 1898
- Place of death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biography
Sarah Anne Curzon, born in Birmingham, England, in 1833, grew up in an affluent family concerned with education. As a result, she studied at only the finest ladies’ schools with the most prominent private tutors. From early on, Curzon showed an acute interest in poetry and wrote a great deal of it as a child, submitting it to collections although much of it was never published. In 1858, she wed fellow writer Robert Curzon of nearby Norfolk and immigrated with him to Toronto, Canada, a few years later.
In Toronto, Curzon was an active member of various literary groups, such as the Toronto Women’s Literary Club. She contributed extensively to Canadian Monthly, Dominion Illustrated, Grip, Evangelical Churchman, Week, and Canadian Magazine among other publications. Never shy about her beliefs, Curzon spoke out openly against sexism and was a leading campaigner for the women’s suffrage movement through her sometimes brash literature.
Sarah Anne Curzon, founder of the Women’s Canadian Historical Society, was a late nineteenth century leader in the battles for women’s education and suffrage. Through her texts on Laura Secord, a Canadian woman who acted heroically during the War of 1812, Curzon established Secord as a Canadian heroine and championed the place of strong women in society. Her most famous work, Laura Secord, the Heroine of 1812, was published eleven years after completion. It illuminated a lesser- known Canadian heroine’s life to the public and helped shape the recorded literary history of Canada. Curzon also wrote and composed plays on occasion, and translated many poetic works during her career in Toronto, which ended with her death in 1898 in her mid-sixties.