author
Susannah Watts
1768–1842
An English abolitionist, writer, and translator from Leicester, she brought moral force and literary skill to the anti-slavery movement. Her work ranged from poetry and travel writing to campaigning against goods produced by enslaved labor.
1 Audiobook
A Walk through Leicester being a Guide to Strangers
by Susannah Watts
About the author
Born in Leicester in 1768, Susannah Watts built a life in letters while also becoming a committed campaigner against slavery. Reliable sources describe her as an English abolitionist, writer, and translator, and note her close connection to Leicester throughout her life.
She is especially remembered for her part in early nineteenth-century abolitionist activism. She helped found The Humming Bird, an anti-slavery periodical, and took part in efforts urging people to boycott sugar and other products linked to slave labor. That mix of literary work and public campaigning gives her writing a strong sense of purpose.
Watts also wrote poetry and travel-related works, showing a range that went beyond political activism alone. She died in 1842, and she is still of interest today both as a regional literary figure and as a woman whose writing was closely tied to reform.