Annabella Plumptre

05 August 1761 - 18 December 1838

Romantic-era writer AP 's career shadowed that of her probably better-known sister Anne ; but after novels and translations she turned to domestic and children's literature instead of to travel and political writing.

Milestones

Shortly before 5 August 1761

AP was born, probably at Cambridge, where her father was President of Queen's College and where she was baptised on this date. She was the fourth of ten children and the third daughter.

This confirms that Bell was only eighteen months younger than her sister Anne, as suspected by Anne's editor Deborah McLeod , instead of nine years younger as many sources still say.

Plumptre, Anne. “Introduction”. Something New, edited by Deborah McLeod, Broadview, p. vii - xxix.

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Their sister Jemima was indeed nine years younger than Anne.

Ashfield, Andrew. Emails to Isobel Grundy about Jemima Plumptre.

Ashfield, Andrew. Emails to Isobel Grundy about Ann Gomersall, Ann Hawkshaw, J. S. Anna Liddiard, Plumptre Sisters, Mary Ridgway Stockdale, Medora Gordon Byron.

Plumptre, Anne. “Introduction”. Something New, edited by Deborah McLeod, Broadview, p. vii - xxix.

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1795

AP published an Ode to Moderation in a periodical entitled The Cabinet, published at Norwich.

Plumptre, Anne. “Introduction”. Something New, edited by Deborah McLeod, Broadview, p. vii - xxix.

Probably December 1818

AP 's last publication, the only one co-authored with her sister , Tales of Wonder, of Humour, and of Sentiments, was advertised a ready for publication.

Gentleman’s Magazine. Various publishers.

87.2 (1817): 538

18 December 1838

AP died in her late seventies at Rennes in France, having outlived her sister Anne by twenty years.

Lonsdale, Roger, editor. Eighteenth-Century Women Poets. Oxford University Press.

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Biography

Birth and Family

Shortly before 5 August 1761

AP was born, probably at Cambridge, where her father was President of Queen's College and where she was baptised on this date. She was the fourth of ten children and the third daughter.

This confirms that Bell was only eighteen months younger than her sister Anne, as suspected by Anne's editor Deborah McLeod , instead of nine years younger as many sources still say.

Plumptre, Anne. “Introduction”. Something New, edited by Deborah McLeod, Broadview, p. vii - xxix.

xxii

Their sister Jemima was indeed nine years younger than Anne.

Ashfield, Andrew. Emails to Isobel Grundy about Jemima Plumptre.

Ashfield, Andrew. Emails to Isobel Grundy about Ann Gomersall, Ann Hawkshaw, J. S. Anna Liddiard, Plumptre Sisters, Mary Ridgway Stockdale, Medora Gordon Byron.

Plumptre, Anne. “Introduction”. Something New, edited by Deborah McLeod, Broadview, p. vii - xxix.

xxii