The Female Academy: 'I will put my Daughter therein to be instructed''

Margaret Lucas Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne was born in 1623 in Colchester, Essex into a family of comfortable means.

As the youngest of eight children she spent much time with her siblings. Margaret had no formal education but she did have access to scholarly libraries and tutors, although she later said the children paid little attention to the tutors, who were there ‘rather for formality than benefit’.

From an early age Margaret was already assembling her thoughts for future ...