Southcott, Joanna (1750-1814), was a British religious leader who believed that she had supernatural powers. Beginning in 1792, she wrote numerous prophecies in a mixture of prose and rhyme. She sealed her prophecies, which were to be opened after the events she predicted came true. Her other writings were published in many books, and she attracted a large number of followers. Southcott claimed to be the woman mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Bible (Revelation 12). She also claimed that, at the age of 64, she would have a son who was to be the second Messiah. She became ill in 1814 and showed some symptoms of pregnancy, in spite of her advanced age. She died on Dec. 27, 1814. Doctors could find no disease or other physical cause for her death.
Southcott was born in April 1750 in Gittisham, Devon, England. She originally attracted attention in 1801 with her first publication, The Strange Effects of Faith.
