MARTINEAU, Harriet, Eng lish author : b. Norwich, 12 June 1802; d. Am bleside, 27 June 1876. She was a sister of James Martineau (q.v.). Her first work, 'Devotional Exercises for the Use of Young Persons,' ap peared in 1823; and in 1830-31 she won three prizes offered by the Central Unitarian Associa tion for as many essays designed to convert respectively the Catholics, the Jews and the Mohammedans. ((The essays," observes a biog rapher, >>probably converted nobody, but brought in 45 guineas' Next came several stories, mostly intended to inculcate some useful lesson, such as those having the title, 'Illustrations of Political Economy) (1831-34), which were fol lowed by 'Illustrations of Taxation' (1834), and gained an immediate recognition. After a sojourn in the United States (19 Sept. 1834 1 Aug. 1836), she published 'Society in Amer ica' (1837), intended as a comparison of "'the existing state of society in America with the principles on which it is proposedly founded.o
and 'A Retrospect of Western Travels' (1838), including some criticisms of slavery that were not well received in this country. Up to about 1851 Miss Martineau had been known as a Unitarian, but she later showed a decided lean ing toward Positivism, and in 1853 published a condensation of Comte's 'Positive Philos ophy.' Among her other works of importance may be mentioned her 'History of England during the Thirty Years' Peace> (1849). Dur ing the last 20 years of her life her writings consisted mainly of pamphlets and contributions to newspapers and periodicals. A remarkably candid autobiography, which had been written for many years, was published after her death (1877). Consult also Miller, 'Harriet Mar tineau' (1884).