Mary Wollstonecraft was born April 27, 1759
(1).
Her parents, John Edward Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Dickson, had
six children. Edward was older than Mary, James, Charles, Eliza, and
Everina were all younger.
Mary Wollstonecraft's early life was one of dwindling fortune and
frequent upheaval. Mary's position as the oldest daughter, put her in
charge of 4 younger siblings, who were more than their mother's frail
health could manage. This responsibility, coupled with regular moves
(8 times in 19 years) to follow her father's unsuccessful attempts to
make money, served to deprive Mary of security or confidence that a
man would take care of her.