Parables from Nature (Classic Edition) Paperback - 2011

Margaret (Mrs. Alfred) Gatty (1809-4 October 1873) at Burnham on Crouch, Essex, was an English writer of children's literature. She was the daughter of the Rev. Alexander John Scott, D.D., a Royal Navy chaplain, who served under, and was the trusted friend of, Lord Nelson onboard the HMS Victory before and during the Battle of Trafalgar. She married the Rev. Alfred Gatty, D.D., Ecclesfield, Yorkshire in 1839 and moved into the vicarage of Church of St. Mary shortly after. She became a highly useful and popular writer of tales for young people. Among her books may be mentioned Parables from Nature, Worlds not Realised, Proverbs Illustrated, and Aunt Judy's Tales. She also conducted Aunt Judy's Magazine, a family publication written by various members of Margaret's large family. She became fascinated with marine biology, possibly on the advice of William Henry Harvey, who she had met in Hastings in 1848. Following this, she wrote a book on British seaweeds which dejargonised much of which had been written previously on the subject. She corresponded with many of the greatest marine biologists of her day including George Busk and Robert Brown. Margaret Gatty amassed a large collection of marine material, much of which gathered by her correspondents in far flung corners of the British Empire. This was donated to Weston Park Museum by her daughter, Horatia Katherine Francis Gatty. Gatty suffered from ill health for most of her life and is thought to have suffered from undiagnosed Multiple Sclerosis. Her frequent bouts of illness resulted in a close friendship with Dr. George Johnston, a Doctor noted for advocating pain relieving medication. He advised her on the use of Chloroform during child birth and Gatty became the first woman in Sheffield to use the drug during labour. Gatty was the mother of Juliana Horatia Ewing, also a writer of children's books, and Alfred Scott-Gatty, who served as Garter Principal King of Arms.