Martha Brotherton

Martha Harvey Brotherton (born Martha Harvey; bapt. 1782 – 25 January 1861) was an English cookbook writer. She is best known as the author of Vegetable Cookery, an early vegetarian cookbook associated with the Bible Christian Church in Salford. The book was published anonymously and later issued in several expanded editions. Brotherton attended the first annual meeting of the Vegetarian Society. She was married to Joseph Brotherton, a minister in the Bible Christian Church and Salford's first Member of Parliament.

Biography Early life and family Martha Harvey was baptised in 1782 in Whittington, Derbyshire, the daughter of Joseph Harvey. She had several siblings. Her brother, William Harvey, became active in Salford's Bible Christian Church and in reform movements including the Vegetarian Society, temperance, and parliamentary reform. He served as Mayor of Salford in 1857 and 1858.

On 12 March 1805, she married Joseph Brotherton (1783–1857) at Whittington Anglican Church, Derbyshire. The couple initially lived in Manchester before moving to Salford, where her husband inherited his father's cotton mill, became a minister of the Bible Christian Church, and later became Salford's first Member of Parliament. The couple had four children, including Helen. The book was originally published anonymously and was republished several times during the 19th century.

Laura J. Miller and Emilie Hardman state that Brotherton's book guided some early 19th-century American readers in adopting vegetarianism. Kathryn Gleadle describes the book as central to the early movement and as a basis for later vegetarian cookbooks.

Vegetarian Society Brotherton attended the first annual meeting of the Vegetarian Society and other meetings of the society.

Death Brotherton died of a heart attack on 25 January 1861 at her home in Pendleton, Salford, aged 78. She was buried alongside her husband at Weaste Cemetery, Salford. A statue was made for her by Matthew Noble.