Mrs Alfred Gatty

The Circle of Blessing Mrs Alfred Gatty

Margaret Gatty 3 June 1809 - 4 October 1873) was an English children's author and writer on marine biology. Gatty was born in Burnham on Crouch, Essex, 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 on board 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. While her tales were targeted at young people, she hoped that they would influence the minds of adults as well. Among her other books are Parables from Nature, Worlds not Realized, 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. Gatty became fascinated with marine biology, through her contact with her second cousin Charles Henry Gatty FRS FRSE FLS FGS etc. There was also possibly some influence from William Henry Harvey, whom she had met while convalescing in Hastings in 1848. Following this, she wrote a book on British seaweeds which was more accessible than previous publications on the subject. She corresponded with many of the greatest marine biologists of her day including George Busk and Robert Brown. Gatty amassed a large collection of marine material, much of it 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.