Rebekah Carmichael

Rebekah Carmichael, also spelled Rebecca,[1] later Hay (1766?–1823) was a British poet.

Rebekah Carmichael
Born1766?
Died1823
Edinburgh
Occupationpoet
Period1790–1806

Biography

Rebekah Carmichael was most likely born in London and baptized at the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields on May 24, 1766,[2] although according to some sources she may have been born and raised in Edinburgh.[1] If she was born in London, her reason of her moving to Scotland is unknown.[2] Her parents died when she was young.[3] In 1793, she married John Hay in Edinburgh, with whom she had four children,[2] including the artist David Ramsay Hay.[2][3]

As a published writer, she was active in the years 1790–1806.[1][4] She appears to have had significant connections in Scotland;[2] in 1787, Robert Burns gave her a book of poetry by Robert Fergusson,[2][4] in which he wrote: "This copy of Ferguson's Poems is presented as a mark of esteem, friendship, and regard to Miss R. Carmichael, poetess".[4] In 1790, she published in Edinburgh a collection of her works under the title Poems,[1][2] signed with her birth name of Carmichael.[4] The book was dedicated to David Stuart Moncreiff[1][2] and was published by subscription;[4] Burns was among the recipients.[2][3] The topics of the poems were varied, ranging from love to musings on nature.[1]

In 1806, she published in a single sheet "Extempore, on seeing Sir William Forbes's Funeral" under her married name.[4]

She died in 1823 and is interred at Edinburgh.[2]

Her poetry was included in such anthologies as Eighteenth Century Women Poets: An Oxford Anthology (1989)[3] and Scottish Poetry, 1730-1830 (2023).[1]

References
  1. Cook, Daniel, ed. (2023). "Rebekah Carmichael". Scottish Poetry, 1730-1830. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-252535-2.
  2. "Carmichael, Rebekah". Jackson Bibliography of Romantic Poetry. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  3. Lonsdale, Roger, ed. (1989). Eighteenth-century women poets: an Oxford anthology. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 445. ISBN 978-0-19-811769-8.
  4. Hawkins, Ann R.; Eckroth, Stephanie, eds. (2020). "Carmichael, Rebekah". Romantic Women Writers Reviewed, Part II vol 6. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-74853-6.
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