Women of 1819

Reigns, Rights, and Revolutions: 1819 and the Rise of Women's Voices

by Margaret Roberts

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The year 1819 stands out as a momentous period in the nation’s history, one of turning points, turbulence, and transformation. It was a year that witnessed the birth of a future monarch whose reign would span over six decades and change the course of British society and its empire: Queen Victoria, born on May 24, 1819. Queen Victoria’s birth may not have seemed significant at the time, but marked the beginning of a reign that would oversee the expansion of the British Empire and major social reforms, including improvements in women’s rights. The political unrest of the era, embodied by events such as the Peterloo Massacre, and the growing calls for reform, would eventually lead to changes that shaped modern Britain.

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Alexandrina Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and the granddaughter of King George III. At the time of her birth, she was not expected to ascend to the throne for quite some time, as her father’s brothers were still alive and in line to inherit the crown. However, her father’s early death in 1820, followed by those of her uncles, who left no legitimate heirs, meant that she inherited the throne at the tender age of 18. Though her reign would later become synonymous with strict moral values, British imperial expansion, and social reform, in 1819, the notion of Queen Victoria as the monarch of a rapidly changing empire seemed distant. Nevertheless, her birth would later prove to be one of the most pivotal events in British history, heralding a time of profound societal evolution, including major changes in the role of women, the rights of the working class, and the political landscape.

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The political climate of 1819 was far from stable. The country was still recovering from the Napoleonic Wars, which had left the economy in complete disarray, and a public that was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the monarchy and government policies. This discontent manifested in protests and growing calls for political and electoral reform, including the extension of the franchise and improvements in representation for the working class. In response to the growing unrest and perceived threat of radicalism, highlighted by the Peterloo Massacre, the British government passed the infamous Six Acts in December 1819. These Acts were aimed at suppressing dissent and curbing civil liberties, including restrictions on public meetings, press freedom, and the right to bear arms. The Acts reflected the government's determination to maintain order and stability in the face of rising popular discontent.

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It was also a period where the voices of marginalised groups, especially women, were not given much attention within the political arena. While the middle and working classes began to demand their rights, women had few avenues to express political agency and were largely excluded from the public discourse around reform. The early 19th century was a time when women in Britain were often confined to the domestic sphere and had limited legal rights. Their role in society was largely defined by their status as daughters, wives, and mothers. Women were excluded from formal political life, unable to vote or stand for Parliament, and their property rights were often limited by the legal doctrine of coverture, which meant that a woman’s legal identity was subsumed under that of her husband once she married. Despite the political landscape being largely male dominated, 1819 also marks the beginning of a slow but steady shift in the conversation surrounding women’s rights. Women like Mary Wollstonecraft and Fanny Wright, who had already laid the groundwork for feminist thought in the late 18th century, continued to influence public discussions. Their calls for women’s education and rights slowly gained traction, though widespread legal and social changes were still decades away.

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Many women became more active in the social reform movements that were gaining momentum. Figures like Mary Shelley, who published Frankenstein in 1818, were beginning to explore new ideas about women’s roles in society, even though their influence was still largely confined to intellectual and literary circles. However, it wasn’t until the later part of the 19th century that more tangible changes regarding women’s rights would begin to emerge. The women’s suffrage movement, which would begin to gain momentum in the mid-to-late 19th century, had its intellectual origins in this period of gradual change. 

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In 1819, Britain was still undergoing rapid industrialisation. The rise of factories and mills, particularly in cities like Manchester and Birmingham, created an industrial working class. This working class, which consisted largely of men, women, and children, faced difficult and often dangerous working conditions. Labourers worked long hours for meagre wages, and many were subjected to exploitation and unsafe working environments, although the Cotton Mills and Factory Act, passed in July, marked a first attempt in the regulation of employment of young children. It was also a period of significant inequality, where a clear divide existed between the wealthy elite and the impoverished working masses. Women, in particular, bore the brunt of industrialisation’s harsh realities. In many industries, women were employed in factories for low wages and were subjected to physical labour in poor conditions. This situation would evolve in the coming decades as women’s roles within the workforce became more recognised, but the early 19th century still held a deeply entrenched gender bias.

 

In the longer view, 1819 was a year on the cusp of profound change, with new voices beginning to emerge in politics, in literature, and in the fight for women’s rights. While the road to equality and suffrage for women would be long, the events of 1819 laid the groundwork for future generations to continue challenging the status quo and demand a more equitable society.

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Events of 1819

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George III was on the throne, with the future George IV acting as regent.

Peterloo Massacre, a gathering of 60,000 people near Manchester demanding parliamentary reform.

The East India Company established a British settlement in Singapore.

Hans C Oersted discovered electromagnetism.

The Birmingham Gas Light and Coke Company provide gas lighting in the streets of Birmingham for the first time.

The Cotton Mills and Factories Act limits the employment of children.

Joseph Bazelgette, the engineer who installed London's sewage system, was born.​​​