Damaris Cudworth Masham

Damaris Masham
Born
Damaris Cudworth

(1659-01-18)18 January 1659
Cambridge, England
Died20 April 1708(1708-04-20) (aged 49)
London, England
NationalityEnglish
Other namesLady Masham
Spouse(s)
Sir Francis Masham, 3rd Bt
(m. 1685)
Era17th-century philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
SchoolCambridge Platonists
Main interests
Christian theology
Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox philosopher with unknown parameter "influences"
Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox philosopher with unknown parameter "influenced"
Damaris, Lady Masham in Women of History

Damaris Cudworth, Lady Masham (18 January 1659 – 20 April 1708) was an English writer, philosopher, theologian, and advocate for women's education who is often characterized as a proto-feminist. She overcame some weakness of eyesight and lack of access to formal higher education to win high regard among eminent thinkers of her time. With an extensive correspondence, she published two works, A Discourse Concerning the Love of God (1696) and Thoughts in reference to a Vertuous or Christian Life (1705). She is particularly noted for her long, mutually-influential friendship with the philosopher John Locke.