Death of Mary Wollstonecraft
10 Sep 1797
Mary Wollstonecraft passed away due to complications of childbirth, during the birth of her second daughter Mary Shelly. Specifically puerperal fever ,also known as childbed fever, which was a common and often fatal condition at the time. Her death occurred just 11 days after the birth of Mary Shelley. Wollstonecraft was buried at Old St Pancras Churchyard in London. Her remains were later moved to the Shelley tomb in Bournemouth. Wollstonecraft's passing was a significant loss to the literary and intellectual community, and her widower, William Godwin, was deeply affected by her death. Despite the initial damage to her reputation caused by Godwin's memoir revealing her unconventional lifestyle, Wollstonecraft's contributions to feminist thought and advocacy have been increasingly recognized and celebrated over time.
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Mary Wollstonecraft.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2025, www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft.