FRANCES WRIGHT, born in Dundee, Scotland, September 6, 1795, died in
Cincinnati, O., December 14, 1852. She became, early in life, imbued
with French liberalism, and was an admiring friend of Lafayette. She
first came to the United States in 1818, and was introduced in
literary circles here by Joseph Rodman Drake. After a time spent in
Paris she came again to the United States in 1825, and purchased 2400
acres of land in Tennessee, at Neshoba (now Memphis). Here she
established a colony of freed slaves. The State authorities compelled
the relinquishment of the scheme as contrary to the law of the
commonwealth, and the land, which was held for her in trust by
Lafayette, was reconveyed to her. The negroes were sent to Hayti, and
Miss Wright spent three years in lecturing on slavery and social
topics in the United States, especially upon woman suffrage, of which
she was the first considerable advocate. She went again to France,
where she married Monsieur d'Arnsmont, with whom, however, she lived
but a short time, returning finally to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she
made her final home.
ALTORF. A Tragedy, first represented in the Theatre of New York,
February 19, 1819. Philadelphia, 1819. 12mo, pp. 83.
This play was produced in different cities, but was not a success.
Another edition, New York, 1819. 12mo.
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