Dear Mining History list-members,
I am attempting to locate a scholar who is expert in 18th-century
coalmining in the north-east in general, and the Montagu pits at Denton
in particular?
I'm part of a team working on the correspondence of Elizabeth Montagu,
'Queen of the Bluestockings':
http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/19014/19014
, who - even before the death of her husband Edward Montagu (1692-1775)
- actually directed his mining and coal-distribution business in
Northumberland, describing herself as: "a Critick, a Coal Owner, a Land
Steward, a sociable creature" (MO 5871, 26 December 1767). The idea of a
female captain of industry in the C18 would seem, in itself, remarkable,
if not unique and, having secured an AHRC Networking Grant, we should
like to invite a plenary speaker to a conference to supply us with
valuable contextualizing detail.
All best wishes,
Michael.
Dr Michael J. Franklin
Department of English
Swansea University
Singleton Park
Swansea SA2 8PP
tel.: 01792 205678
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