Louisa Gurney-Hoare

1784-1836

Educationalist and author

Born in Norwich on 25 September 1784, Louisa was the daughter of the Quakers John and Catherine Gurney. Among her siblings were the prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, the philanthropists Joseph John and Samuel Gurney, and the banker and antiquary Daniel Gurney. Louisa’s mother died young leaving the younger children to be brought up by the eldest daughter Kitty. Their upbringing was unconventional for the time.

The children were all encouraged to keep diaries and  Louisa was a particularly avid writer, recording her love of nature, music (especially dancing), and politics, religion, and social injustice.

 Her three books were:-

1. Hints for the Improvement of Early Education and Nursery Discipline (1819).
2. Friendly advice on the management and education of children, addressed to parents of the middle and labouring classes of society (1824).
3.  Letters from a Work-House Boy (1826).

She died in Hampstead on 6 September 1836.

Find out more: You can see original documents about the Gurney Family at the Norfolk Record Office here