Penelope Steel remains an enigmatic figure in the annals of British cartography, her contributions overshadowed by the male-dominated discourse of her era. Although scant records exist, we can piece together a portrait of a pioneering woman who subtly but significantly influenced the mapping of early 19th-century England. Her life and career illustrate that women contributed to scientific fields in an era that did not readily acknowledge their roles.
Early Life in Jamaica
Penelope Winde was born in Jamaica in the mid-18th century, into a time when the island was a bustling hub of British colonial activity. Little is known about her early life in the Caribbean, but it's believed her family was part of the burgeoning middle class, possibly involved in the trade or plantation economy.
Entry into Cartography
Penelope Winde married a young lawyer called David Steel on 1 May 1786 in London. Although David Steel began married life as a barrister, on the death of his father he took over his business as a nautical publisher and bookseller.
Career and Contributions
Penelope's most notable work came after her husband's death in 1803, when she took over the business. She managed to maintain and even expand the business, producing maps that were known for their detail and appeal.
Her maps were not just technical achievements but also highly skilled, showcasing her proficiency in engraving and her eye for a balanced design.
Challenges and Recognition
Penelope found herself a widow with five small children and remarried to William Mason in 1806.
As a woman in a field dominated by men, Penelope faced numerous challenges. She was often overlooked or had her contributions attributed to male relatives or associates. Nonetheless, she carved a niche for herself, earning respect from a select group of scholars and cartographers. Her work was occasionally mentioned in geographical societies' proceedings, and she corresponded with notable figures like Sir John Barrow of the Admiralty, who acknowledged her work in his writings, although often in passing.
In 1808 several of Steel's charts were chosen by the Admiralty Chart Committee for supply to the fleet. In the early years of the nineteenth century naval officers were stll free to sell their surveys to commercial publishers.
The firm's premises were in Union Row, Little Tower Hill, until Penelope moved the business to 70 Cornhill in 1809. They had a navigation warehouse and a navigation school.
By 1810 the supply of new charts had ceased, and John Purdy, who had apprenticed with David Steel I, left the firm to work with Laurie and Whittle, the Steel’s competitors.
A letter written in 1819 by Thomas Hurd, the Hydrographer of the Navy, to John Barrow, the Second Secretary of the Admiralty, shows that in about 1813 the Admiralty stopped buying charts from the firm.
By 1814, Penelope Steel had entered into a business partnership with Stanley Goddard, a younger man, who would become her third husband, and renamed the firm Steel and Goddard. Goddard had entered an apprenticeship as a printer in 1802 and was probably considerably her junior in age but brought new energy if not experience to the firm.
By June 1819, Goddard and the firm were bankrupt, and J. W. Norie and Company acquired their “case fixtures, stock in trade and copper plates”. Norie and his partner George Wilson spent a large sum on acquiring the prestigious Steel name, which he promoted by adding the words "where may be had all the publications of Steel and Co late of Cornhill" to his imprint for several years.
References:
Susanna Fisher, The Makers of the Blueback Charts, A History of Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, 2001.