Maria Edgeworth : Short Biography

Maria Edgeworth was born on New Years Day 1767 in Berkshire, England to Richard Lovell Edgeworth and Anna Maria Elers. After her mother died, Maria's father remarried and when Maria was 15 years old, he moved the children and his new wife to the family home in Edgeworthstown, in the civil parish of Mostrim Co. Longford. As a young woman, Maria helped her father in managing the family estate. Her father had taken a great interest in his daughter's education, sending her to excellent schools, and then ensuring that her tutelage continued in the home. 

At the age of 21, encouraged by her father, Maria began to write. By now she had 21 siblings from her father's 4 marriages and the children provided a captive audience for her work. In 1796 she published a collection of stories and her first complete novel, Castle Rackrent, followed 4 years later in 1800. She would go on to become a prolific writer, and amongst her admirers can be counted Sir Walter Scott and Jane Austen. She is often credited with being the first author to write in the genre of historical fiction. She wrote extensively until the death of her father, after which her rate of publication slowed down, though she did publish his memoirs in 1820.

Maria dedicated herself to running the family estate and also volunteering in the relief effort of the Irish Famine. She travelled extensively throughout Europe and was received well in high society, but would return to Edgeworthstown in her later years. On the 22nd of May 1849, Maria died at home in Edgeworthstown of heart disease. She had reached the age of 82. 

She is often regarded as one of the great writers of her time and is one of only four women to be made an honorary member of the Royal Irish Academy.