A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Williams, Anna
WILLIAMS, ANNA,
Was the daughter of a surgeon and physician, in South Wales, where she was born, in 1706. She went with her father to London, in 1830, when, from some failing in his undertakings, he was reduced to great poverty. In 1740, Miss Williams lost her sight by a cataract, which prevented her, in a great measure, from assisting her father; but she still retained her fondness for literature, and what is more extraordinary, her skill in the use of her needle. In 1746, she published the "Life of the Emperor Julian, with Notes, translated from the French." She was assisted by her friends in this work, and it does not appear that she derived much pecuniary advantage from it. Soon after this. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson became interested in her, and at Dr. Johnson's request an operation was performed on her eyes, but without success; and from that time, even after his wife's death, she remained almost constantly an inmate of Johnson's house. Her circumstances were improved in the last years of her life, by the publication of a volume of prose and verse, and by some other means, and the friendship and kindness of Johnson continued unalterable. She died at his house in Boltcourt, Fleet Street, aged seventy-seven.