Maria Hack (1777–1844)

Maria Hack, née Barton, was born into an English Quaker family in Carlisle; her younger brother was the poet Bernard Barton, a friend of the author Charles Lamb. In 1800, Maria married Stephen Hack, a London merchant, and the couple had 10 children. Maria Hack became a prolific writer of educational books and stories for children. One of her earliest works was a collection of stories teaching geography called Winter Evenings; or, Tales of Travellers (1818-1820), published in four volumes.