Scold or journalist? Anne Royall defies easy labels. Anne Royall rests here in Congressional Cemetery. She lived a life as colorful as the ink she used.
Anne Royall was born Anne Newport in 1769. Her early life was spent on the Pennsylvania frontier. Later, she found herself in western Virginia. There, she worked as a servant in the home of William Royall. William Royall, a wealthy gentleman farmer, recognized her potential. He educated her, opening doors to literature and ideas. Anne married William in 1797. They enjoyed fifteen years together until his death in 1812.
After William’s death, Anne faced legal battles. Relatives challenged his will, which left her most of his property. After seven years, the will was nullified. Anne was left nearly penniless. In her fifties, Anne began a new chapter. She embarked on journeys across the United States.
Anne Royall became a travel writer. Her writings offered sharp observations of American life. She penned portraits of the elite and descriptions of everyday people. Her style contrasted with the sentimental literature of the time.
In 1824, Anne Royall arrived in Washington, D.C. She sought a federal pension as a war widow. While in Washington, she pursued her journalistic endeavors. A popular story, though likely apocryphal, tells of Anne catching President John Quincy Adams bathing in the Potomac River. It is said she sat on his clothes until he answered her questions. This act supposedly earned her the first presidential interview by a woman.
Anne Royall’s outspoken nature made her enemies. She faced criticism and derision. In 1829, she was convicted of being a “common scold”. This charge stemmed from a dispute with a Presbyterian congregation. Anne objected to their use of a firehouse for services. She saw it as a violation of church and state separation. The court fined her. Two newspaper reporters paid the fine.
Undeterred, Anne Royall launched her own newspaper in 1831. Paul Pry exposed political corruption and fraud. Later, the paper became The Huntress. Anne used her paper to crusade against government incompetence. She also promoted states’ rights and religious tolerance. Anne Royall ran her newspaper until her death in 1854. She faced constant financial struggles.
John Quincy Adams once called Anne Royall a “virago errant in enchanted armor”. Her legacy remains complex. Was she a troublemaker or a champion of free speech? Perhaps she was both. Anne Royall challenged conventions. She paved the way for future generations of female journalists. Remember her name. Anne Royall was a force to be reckoned with.