Charlotte Mason was born in England in 1842 and was primarily educated by her parents at home. She became orphaned at the age of sixteen. She decided at a young age to make education her life's work and held many positions. She wrote geography books that were well received and wrote Home Education. This book, and the books that followed, went on to become the most-used reference by homeschoolers.
 

Many of the readers of Home Education communicated with Charlotte. Their inquiries of how to obtain a teacher for their children (who understood her mentioned methods) caused Charlotte to establish a training college for governesses. At this time the Parents National Educational Union (PNEU) was established. Charlotte Mason had day schools in England and home schools that were conducted correspondence style, thus the reference to her being called the "founder of the home schooling movement."
 

At that time, England's parents were able to choose from boarding schools, private day schools and public schools (since compulsory education had been established in 1880.) They also had governesses. It appears that many parents did not want their children in the public schools and many could not afford private education, so they opted for home education. Charlotte Mason began a monthly magazine called the Parents' Review and it's purpose was to support the parents of her
schools.
 

The Parents' Review continued until the 1960's even though Mason passed away in 1923. Copies of this magazine are in the Library of Congress in the United States; Great Britain also has copies.

Charlotte Mason was admired by many people. She was a devoted Christian woman who loved children. She wrote in 1862, "Truly parents are happy people—to have God's children lent to them…I love my children dearly."