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  Jane
and Anna Maria
Porter
English Romantic Novelists
1776-1850
1780-1832
Jane and Anna Maria Porter were
English romantic novelists of Irish descent
whose works have been translated into several
foreign languages and gained for them some
measure of success. Though Anna Marie began her
writing career first, it was Jane whose fame
lasted throughout the centuries.
Their father was an Irish
officer; a surgeon in the Irish army, who died
when the girls were quite young. Having been
born in the late eighteenth century, their
father’s death left the family with limited
means for their support and education. Mrs.
Porter moved the family, which included the two
girls and two sons, to Edinburgh , Scotland for
the education of her children. It was here that
Walter Scott, then a student in college, became
a fast friend of the family, and often
entertained the little girls with stories of
“witches and warlocks”. The family later moved
to Ireland and then again to London , all
chiefly due to educational opportunities.
Both girls became writers. The
first sister that began a writing career was
Anna Maria, who began to write at a the very
young age of thirteen. She continued writing for
the rest of her life and altogether produced
over fifty volumes. Among her greatest works
were “The Lakes of Killarney”, “A Sailor’s
Friendship and a Soldier’s Love”, “The Hungarian
Brothers”, about the French Revolution, “Don
Sebastian”, “Ballad Romances and other Poems”
and “The Knight of St. John”, which was a joint
work with her sister. Though she was a prolific
writer, if asked, not many would be able to
recall even one of her works today.
On the other hand, Miss Jane
Porter became the author of two well known
books, “Thaddeus of Warsaw” and “The Scottish
Chiefs”, the first being considered the better
book. “The Scottish Chiefs” is not a correct
representation of national life and manners with
the patriot William Wallace is represented as
too much of a drawing-room hero. The book,
however, has been widely read and was vert
picturesque. “Thaddeus of Warsaw” has gained
Jane Porter admission as lady canoness into the
“Teutonic Order of St. Joachim”. Jane also wrote
“The Pastor’s Fireside”, “Duke Christian of
Luneburg ”, and “Tales Round a Winter’s Hearth”,
which she co-authored with Maria. Though her
novels were a success, her stage tragedy “
Switzerland was a complete failure.
Sir Robert Ker Porter was their
brother who was about a year older than Jane. He
was an artist of some measure of success whose
best productions were battle pieces. His
“Storming of Seringapatam” was a painting that
was 120 feet long. He went to Russia in 1804 and
became painter to the czar. While he was there,
Jane spent some time with him in St. Petersburg
.
We should be careful to give
honor to the mother of this family for the
careful training of her four children. The two
girls and their brother Robert attained eminence
in artistic and literary lines and the eldest
son, William became a doctor. This was no small
accomplishment for a mother who was left
practically destitute with a young family to
care for both physically, emotionally, and
financially.
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