Elizabeth Griffith

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EG is now best-known as an eighteenth-century novelist and dramatist. But she was best-known in her own lifetime as a writer of fictional letters; and her output as a professional author included translation, short stories, periodical essays, and critical and editorial work.
Stipple engraving in oval frame of Elizabeth Griffith by Mackenzie, after J. Thomas, published 1801. Her head-covering looks like a turban tied in a bow under her chin, with another bow at the stand-away collar of her jacket. Her name appears below as "Mrs Griffith". National Portrait Gallery.

Milestones

11 October 1727

EG was born, not at Dublin (as has been supposed until very recently), but at Glamorgan in Wales. She was one of two children.
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.

Probably early 1752

EG , clandestinely married, pregnant, and living in an aunt's house in Dublin, sat down for the first time to write for publication and money. She produced Theodorick, King of Denmark, published that year.
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.

By April 1757

The first two volumes of A Series of Genuine Letters Between Henry and Frances—that is, between EG and her future husband, Richard Griffith —were published at both Dublin and London.
Gentleman’s Magazine. Various publishers.
27 (1757): 191

By December 1766

Volumes 3 and 4 of A Series of Genuine Letters Between Henry and Frances, by EG and Richard Griffith , were published.
Critical Review. W. Simpkin and R. Marshall.
23 (1767): 30

3 December 1770

EG and Richard Griffith published the final two volumes of A Series of Genuine Letters Between Henry and Frances.
Norton, J. E. “Some Uncollected Authors XXII: Elizabeth Griffith 1727-1793”. The Book Collector, Vol.
8
, pp. 418-24.
421

11 November 1771

EG published with her name (Mrs. Griffith) her best-known novel, The History of Lady Barton, A Novel in Letters.
Norton, J. E. “Some Uncollected Authors XXII: Elizabeth Griffith 1727-1793”. The Book Collector, Vol.
8
, pp. 418-24.
423

2 March 1782

EG published through Cadell her last work, a conduct book entitled Essays Addressed to Young Married Women. It first appeared anonymously, but a second issue, the same year, gave her name on a cancel.
Burmester, James et al. English Books. James Burmester Rare Books.
55 no. 38
Norton, J. E. “Some Uncollected Authors XXII: Elizabeth Griffith 1727-1793”. The Book Collector, Vol.
8
, pp. 418-24.
424

5 January 1793

EG died at her son's estate at Millicent, County Kildare, Ireland.
Griffith, Elizabeth. “Introduction”. The Delicate Distress, edited by Cynthia Booth Ricciardi and Susan Staves, University Press of Kentucky, p. vii - xviii.
xxxii

Biography

Birth and Famly

11 October 1727

EG was born, not at Dublin (as has been supposed until very recently), but at Glamorgan in Wales. She was one of two children.
Matthew, Henry Colin Gray et al., editors. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. http://www.oxforddnb.com/.

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