A Scottish by nationality, Joanna Baillie was a poet as well as a playwright of the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries. She is mostly known for her 1798 drama entitled as the Plays on the Passions. Baillie was a popular writer of that era and she also used to hold the literary society meetings at her home.

Fast Facts:

• Full Name: Joanna Baillie
• Birth Date: 11^th September 1762
• Birthplace: Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland
• Died: 23^rd February 1851 (aged 88)
• Death place: Hampstead, England, United Kingdom
• Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Baillie

Joanna Baillie: personal life, education, death

Joanna Baillie was born as the youngest child to her parents Rev. James Baillie and Dorothea Hunter. She also had a twin sister who died shortly after the birth. Additionally, she also had 2 other siblings. Among them, one is a brother named Matthew Baillie and the other is a sister named Agnes Baillie. Joanna was born on 11^th September 1762.

She had admitted that she could not read until the age of nine. Later, she was sent to Glasgow Boarding School when she was 10 years old. She loved her schoolwork and she thrived in the subjects such as art, drama, music, and mathematics. But, her most treasured pastime at the school was writing as well as performing in her own plays.

Baillie died in the year 1851 having nearly reached at the age of 90. Until her end, she remained in good health. She and her sister, Agnes, both are buried beside their mother.

Fast Facts:

• Nationality: Scottish
• Occupation: Poet and Dramatist
• Father: Rev. James Baillie
• Mother: Dorothea Hunter
• Siblings: 2
• Religion: Christianity
• Education: Glasgow Boarding School
• Birth Sign: Virgo

Joanna Baillie: professional life and career

In 1784, Baillie moved to London along with her family. It was during that time when she was encouraged to try poetry by her aunt, Anne Hunter. After 7 years, she wrote her most famous piece known as Plays on the Passions. It was praised by the critics and also hailed a new era of an English Romanticism in Literature.

Prior to that, Joanna’s wildly popular work had often been compared to Shakespeare. Her first poem titled as Winter Day was published in 1790 and it detailed her love of Scotland. That same year, her first collection of the poetry was also published which was entitled as Wherein it is Attempted to Described Certain Views of Nature and of Rustic Manners.

Her lyric poems often take a form of meditations on youth and nature. She was also the author of the poems Metrical Legends of Exalted Characters, Dramatic Poetry, and Fugitive Verses. Her last work ‘The Dramatic and Poetical Works of Joanna Baillie’ was published shortly before her death.

Fast Facts:

• Profession: Poet and Dramatist
• Active period: 1790-1849
• Notable works: Plays on the Passions

Growing up as the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, religious was always an important thing for Joanna. She was a great friend of Lady Byron. Their friendship was deeper than professional. One of the people she corresponded the most was with Sir Walter Scott.