Frederica Planta

Planta was born on 10 November 1750,[1] while her father Andreas Planta (1717–1773), originally a Swiss reformed pastor, worked at the Ansbach court of Charles William Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach[2] and likely also taught mathematics at the Gymnasium Carolinum.[3] Her mother was Margarete Scartazzini de Bolgiani from Bondo.[4][3] Planta's first name Frederica, atypical for her mother's Val Bregaglia region of origin and more typical of Brandenburg, may have been chosen in honour of her father's employer and family.[5] She had several sisters and one brother, Joseph Planta (1744–1827), later principal librarian of the British Museum.[6][7][8] In 1752, her father moved to London to become pastor of the German Reformed congregation at the Savoy Chapel in London where he became assistant librarian at the British Museum in 1758.[3][9] After 1761, he taught Italian to Queen Charlotte.[10][11]

George III, Queen Charlotte and their Six Eldest Children, painting by Johan Zoffany, 1770

In July 1771, Planta was engaged as governess at the court of George III and Queen Charlotte, under the main governess Lady Charlotte Finch.[12][13] The royal family had first tried to hire her older sister Elizabeth Planta, but she had declined as she preferred to continue to work for Mary Eleanor Bowes.[14] Previously, Frederica had been working as a governess for Lady Hoskyns and was only released from that employment after the Queen's personal intervention, despite her previous employer's protest.[15][16] Planta, who knew seven languages including Latin and Greek, was supposed to teach the children to read first English, then other languages,[17][16] as well as reading, writing and the foundations of all subjects.[15] She was described as "a most pious Christian" and lived close to the Royal Family at Kew Palace.[16] Queen Charlotte was interested in the theory and practice of education,[18] and was an early supporter of education delivered through play.[19] Planta delivered this, "gain[ing] their affection by making their learning much play as possible", as she wrote in a letter.[20] For education in the history of England, she had designed cards that her charges should put in the correct order, and she considered this as a successful teaching tool, to be used together with stories.[20][21] Planta's salary was £100 a year (£13,947 in 2021);[22] from 1773, she received an additional £50 (£6,759 in 2021)[22] for food, tea, chocolate, coffee and sugar.[23] She also did not have to pay for her accommodation or sedan chair porters.[16] Her sister Elizabeth considered Frederica's working conditions and salary to be "quite mediocre".[16]

Planta died on 2 February 1778, of an "accidental illness".[24] Like her father, she was buried at St George's, Bloomsbury.[25] Her sister Margaret Planta (known as "Peggy") succeeded her sister as governess and English teacher at court.[23]