Trimmer

Trimmer, MRS. SARAH, was born at Ipswich on 6th January 1741. Her father was Joshua Kirby, a man of intelligence and piety, who in 1755 removed to London, and became tutor to the Prince of Wales, afterwards George III., in the science of perspective. Here his daughter met Dr Johnson, with whom she speedily became a favourite. In 1759 her father was appointed Clerk of the Works at Kew Palace; and here she became acquainted with Mr Trimmer (1738-92), who married her in 1762, and to whom she bore twelve children. It was not till 1780 that she came before the world as an authoress, by the publication of her Easy Introduction to the Knowledge of Nature—the first of nearly thirty volumes for the young, which, though now forgotten, with the exception of The History of the Robins, were excellently adapted for their purpose. She died quite suddenly on December 15, 1810. See her Life and Writings (2 vols. 1814).