The Wedding of George Austen and Cassandra Leigh

George Austen and Cassandra Leigh, Austen's parents, married on April 26, 1764, at St.Swithin's Church in Bath.

“Jane Austen.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen.

Henry-Thomas Austen's birth

On June 8, 1771, Henry-Thomas Austen was born to Cassandra and George Austen at Steventon in Hampshire County. Henry-Thomas was close to Jane Austen and encouraged her to continue in her joy of writing which drew her to becoming an author. After her death, he worked on publishing her last two novels posthumously in 1817. He also was the first to write Austen's "Biographical Notice," which was published in the first edition of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. The writing talent in the family was not exclusive to Jane Austen, and Henry-Thomas found himself editor and contributor of The Loiteror for a year. His education and career were well-versed, and he had experience as a banker and clergyman until his death.

Austen, Henry, et al. “Appendix C: Ideals of Femininity.” Mansfield Park, 2nd ed., Broadview Press, Peterborough, Ontario, 2003, pp. 484–487.

“Henry Thomas Austen.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Oct. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Thomas_Austen.

Nattress Editor of Austenprose.com, Laurel Ann. “Jane Austen's Siblings – Rev. Henry Thomas Austen 1771-1850.” Austenprose, 3 Mar. 2022, https://austenprose.com/2009/10/06/jane-austens-siblings-rev-henry-thoma....

George Austen's Occupation

From 1773 until 1796, while living in Stevenson, George Austen supplemented his income by teaching three to four boys at a time who stayed in their home. George is believed to have received an annual income of £200, which speaks to the lower economic status of Austen's family at this time. Although they were considered a part of the gentry, his income was significantly lower than the average gentry income (£1,000 to £5,000). His occupation in teaching speaks to his love of academia and perhaps encouraged his passion for his sons' and daughters' education.

“Jane Austen.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen.

Birth

Jane Austen was born December 16, 1775, at Steventon Rectory in Hampshire England. Sources say she was born a month late to George Austen and Cassandra Austen (née Leigh). She was the youngest of seven children James (1765), George (1766), Edward (1767), Henry (1771), Cassandra (1773), Francis (1774), Jane (1775) and Charles John (1779). It's recorded that George suffered from seizures and was potentially blind and mute, so his parents put him into foster care.  

“Jane Austen.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen.

Hugh Blair's Sermons

Hugh Blair

Hugh Blair was a famous Scottish minister that became vital to the Scottish Enlightenment as a teacher and influential voice in the church and secular regions. Between 1777 and 1801, Blair wrote and published five volumes of sermons highlighting Christian morality. He was considered socially conservative and disapproved of radical change. The sermons reflected those thoughts and corresponded with the intended audience of the upper class. What distinguished his sermons was his focus on morality, faithfulness to God, and a balance of emotion and reason. He experienced great success with the volumes, and they were translated into other languages with five new editions that followed. In Mansfield Park, Mary Crawford’s opinion of a clergyman would be to preach Blair’s Sermons and not his own original work. Her comment nods to the success of the volumes.

Austen, Jane, and June Sturrock. “Chapter 10.” Mansfield Park, Broadview Press, Peterborough, Ontario, 2003, p. 127.

"Hugh Blair." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Nov. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Blair. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.

Putrid Fever

The putrid fever, medically known as typhus, was preavalent in the early life of Jane Austen as there was a Putrid Fever epidemic August of 1783. This disease was brought in by troops incoming from their service in Gibraltar returning and quartering in Southampton. This illness was of high mortality among elder people and historically occured during times of war and famine. The transmission of this disease froms was primarily through human infestations and pests such as lice, ticks, mites, and rat fleas. Symptoms of this illness were constant headaches, high temperature, pink spotting, that rapidly darken all throughout the body excluding the soles of the feet, palms and face. Recovery could be spontaneous or prove to be fatal. 

Romantic Poetry

In 1784, James Thomson's book was published, The Poetical Works of James Thomson. Thomson was one of the many revered poets of the Romantic era that led to inspiring the character 'Marianne' in Austen's Sense and Sensibility. William Cowper, another Romantic poet Sense and Sensibility's 'Marianne is said to have read, also had his book published, The Task with Tirocinium, and Selections from the Minor Poems, in 1784.

Austen, Jane. Sense and Sensibility. Edited by Kathleen James-Cavan, Broadview Press, 2001.

King George III experiences hypomania

King George III suffered from what we now know as bipolar disorder with acute mania. In 1788 he experienced one of his most severe episodes of mania which led to him taking a step back from his responsibility as king. He left many decisions up to his prime minister, William Pitt the Younger. When King George III was experiencing mania, one sign was often a change in his speech and writing. It has been found that he would write much longer, more creative sentences, and that his vocabulary was all-together more colorful. He was also witnessed to talk a great deal until foam would come from his mouth. When he had to withdraw from the public eye, it left people in a bit of a panic, as people did not know who would take over for him, due to his poor relationship with his son. When he withdrew for recovery he would go to Kew.

“What Was the Truth about the Madness of George III?” BBC News, BBC, 15 Apr. 2013, https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22122407.

First President of the United States

The election of the first United States president, George Washington, and the America's rebellion against the British Monarchy, raised fears among English nobility and upper class that the lower class would revolt and attempt to end the Monarchy. This presidential election, along with the American and French Revolutions, was a reminder of the vulnerability of the English government. 

History.com Editors. “George Washington.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/george-washington.

Governor, Marquis de Launay massacres 40, is then put to death

In the summer of 1789, the London Gazette covered news that the governor of Paris, Marquis de Launay had been put to death. He was responsible for the death of 40 protestors outside of the Bastille. He had let them in as long as they promised to not act violently, and then had them all shot down. 

The National, Archives. “French Revolution - Source 2.” The National Archives, The National Archives, 29 Oct. 2014, https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/french-revolutio....

Henry Austen joins Oxfordshire Militia

Henry Thomas Austen was the brother of the novelist Jane Austen. He received his education from his father and studied St. John's College. In 1792 he received his bachelor's degree and was going to become a deacon, but in 1793, his plans were dismissed as war occured between England and France. Henry decided to join the Oxfordshire Milita, where they would protect the English Channel from the French Invasion. In 1795, he served under Lieteneant Cornwallis to protect Ireleand from the French, he was able to make connections with the rich and powerful figures which helped him out as he was appointed paymaster, an officer whose duty is to pay wages. His position as paymaster lasted until 1801.

“Henry Thomas Austen.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 July. 2022,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Thomas_Austen

Militia Regiments on the South Coast of England

In Pride and Prejudice, it was mentioned that there was a millitia that arrived in England, "At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the head quarters" (Pride and Prejudice. Austen. pg. 66). As seen in Appendix F of the novel, Militia regiments were deployed in Southern countries of England due to the war with France. Men were drafted by the number from their respective countries. Wealthy men could avoid being drafted by paying a fine. During the winter, The men were stationed on inland towns, Austen's fictional town Meryton being an example. When summer rolled around, the men would be sent to large camps along the coast of England. Thus the soldiers essentially allowed the town folks the latest news of what occured in their country.

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. (First Edition) Edited by Robert P. Irvine, Broadview Press, 2002. (pg. 66, 449)

Austen begins writing "First Impressions"

In October of 1796, Jane Austen begins writting her novel First Impressions. When she was writting this novel she was at the age of 20.Austen began writing the novel after staying at Goodnestone Park in Kent with her brother Edward and his wife. This novel was a begging draft/edition of what we know as Pride and Prejudice. It is belived that Austen was writting First Impressions as a social commentary on the complex social customs of her time, as well as the pressure of marriage at her times. The title First Impressions eludes to her first version of Pride and Prejudice being more heavily focused on Lizzy Bennet, as she was the charecter who struggled with letting her first impression of people take ahold of her emotions. 

Rebellion In Ireland

A rebellion led by the Society of United Irishmen started and ended in 1798. It lasted a short 3 months and was fought by many poorly armed soldiers in a poorly organized fashion. Regardless, the death toll numbered within the tens of thousands. The main goal of this rebellion was to proclaim the country independent from Britain and create the Irish Republic. MP was published 16 years after the uprising was put down. Feelings of revolution and unrest were common feelings within the world Austen was writing in at the time. 

In chapter 2 of MP, Maria and Julia fault Fanny for not knowing geography, particularly relating to Ireland. They tell their mother, "Do you know, we asked her last night which way she would go to get to Ireland; and she said, she should cross to the Isle of Wight. She thinks of nothing but the Isle of Wight, and she calls it the Island, as if there were no other island in the world." 

Dorney, John. "The 1798 Rebellion – a brief overview." The Irish Story, 28
     Oct. 2017, www.theirishstory.com/2017/10/28/
     the-1798-rebellion-a-brief-overview/#.Y6D1H1HMK5c. Accessed 19 Dec. 2022.

Bingley moves to Netherfield

Netherfield was the temporary home to the Bennet family in Pride and Predjudice. Bingley owns the house and this is an important detail to the novel because this estate was were Elizebeth and Darcy first meet. Without Netherfeild, Elizebeth and Darcy probably would have never crossed paths as closely as they did here. 

Treaty of Amiens

This Treaty was what stopped the Neopolenic war between France and Britian. During this time France regained most of their colonies. After this treaty took place the size of the militia in Britian shrank tremendously. Change in the malitia may have cheanged hwo the women an military men interacted and may have took some of the stresses of war off of Jane and her brothers. 

“French and British Armed Forces.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/event/Napoleonic-Wars/French-and-British-arme....

"Susan" manuscript sold to publisher

Jane Austen takes the advice of her brother Henry and has his lawyer William Seymour sell her Susan manuscript to the Crosby and Co. publishing place in London. It was sold to them for 10 pounds with a promise to immediately sell it. It never sold from this publishing company but was released as an upcoming book in their advertisements. It shows the difficulties Jane Austen faced selling her books even after her other work was sold successfully. 

The Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal was built in 1805 in Bath, England to replace the Old Orchard Street Theatre. The building was designed by George Dance the Younger. In Persuasion, Charles invites his extended family to join him for a night a the theater: "I have been to the theatre, and secured a box for to-morrow night. A'n't I a good boy? I know you love a play; and there is room for us all" (Austen 233-234). Though he does not directly name the Theater Royal, it can be assumed that he was referring to this theater. 

"Theatre Royal" Bath." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_Royal,_Bath#:~:text=The%20Theatre%.... Accessed 4 December, 2022. 

Austen, Jane. Persuasion, edited by Linda Bree, Toronto, Broadview Literary Texts, 1998. 

Slave Trade Act 1807

In 1807, the Parliament of the UK passes an the Slave Trade Act which banned slaves being imported into and traded in England, but it did not prohibit slavery or affect current slave owners within England. This act was one step closer to the abolishment of slavery in England and Europe generally. Slavery would remain legal in England until the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833. Although this act most likely had no direct effect on Austen or her family, this act had a large impact on the gentry and upper class in England during Austen's life, and perhaps impacted wealthy family members. 

“Slave Trade Act 1807.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Aug. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_Trade_Act_1807.

Elizabeth Knight, Fanny Knight's Mom, Dies

Fanny Knight was 15 when her mother, Elizabeth, died on October 10, 1808. Jane and Cassandra took on a motherly role in Fanny’s life. Shortly after his wife’s death, Edward Knight (Jane’s brother) inherited a property in Chawton, where Jane, Cassandra, and their mother lived in the cottage. Their close proximity strengthened their relationship. Her letters of correspondence in which Fanny asks for advice on whether or not to marry a suitor, could have influenced the content in Persuasion.

Boyle, Laura. “Fanny Austen Knight (Knatchbull).” Jane Austen Centre and the Jane Austen Online Gift Shop, JaneAusten.co.uk, 22 Aug. 2021, https://janeausten.co.uk/blogs/jane-austen-life/fanny-austen-knight-knat...

Jane Austen Moves to Chawton House

Jane Austen's Chawton House

Jane Austen moved to the small village of Chawton with her mother, sister, and family friend/best friend Martha Lloyd, on July 7, 1809. Jane spent the last eight years of her life in this house after it was given to the four ladies to share by Edward Austen, one of several brothers in the Austen family. The house is now a major tourist site for Austen enthusiasts, treated as a museum with portraits of the family and various items once belonging to Jane or significant in the history of her life displayed throughout. The house was also the site of Austen's fervent writing -- here is where she was able to revise what is now Sense and Sensibility and eventually get it published. Here is also where she began and completed Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion before her health began to decline. The other parts of novels finished but not completed by her own hand, such as Sanditon, were also worked on here in Chawton. Some of the letters and lines of poetry that remain to detail Jane's thoughts concerning the house and her living there are positive. The neighborhood was known to be small and the lifestyle of the women humble but overall understated and comfortable.

Johnson, Ben. “The Real Jane Austen.” Historic UK, https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/The-Real-Jane-Austen/#:~:text=From....

“Jane Austen: A Life.” Jane Austen's House, OPENCULTU.RE, 20 July 2022, https://janeaustens.house/jane-austen-a-life/.

"Sense and Sensibility" Is Published

On October 30, 1811, Sense and Sensibility was published by Thomas Egerton in London. Austen was 35 years old when this first novel of hers hit the shelves. The novel was originally titled Elinor and Marianne before Jane sent her manuscript to a publisher only to receive little to no feedback. She turned around and made extensive revisions to bring us the novel we have today and read in this class. Jane did not put her name on the finished product, penning "By a Lady" on the title page, an alias later used to promote the sales of Pride and Prejudice once Sense and Sensibility experienced critical acclaim. Austen eventually, "cleared £140 from the [novel's] first edition, equivalent to £9,000 or more today" (Cavendish). 

Cavendish, Richard. “Publication of Sense and Sensibility 'By a Lady'.” History Today, 10 Oct. 2011, https://www.historytoday.com/archive/publication-sense-and-sensibility-%...'s%20Sense%20and%20Sensibility,Egerton%20on%20October%2030th%2C%201811.&text=Jane%20Austen%20was%2035%20when,six%20years%20left%20to%20live.

The War of 1812

Battle of Lake Erie, by E. Percy Moran, c1911.

In Mansfield Park, Tom asks Dr. Grant, “A strange business this in America, Dr. Grant! What is your opinion? I always come to you to know what I am to think of public matters” (2^nd ed., p141). This “strange business” in America could be referred to the War of 1812.

The War of 1812 was the conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain over British violations of U.S. maritime rights. It ended with the exchange of ratifications of the Treaty of Ghent.

Some regard the American Revolution War and the War of 1812 two wars of liberation. If the American Revolution was the birth of the United States, the War of 1812 was its coming of age.

Mansfield Park Publication

Mansfield Park is the third novel by Jane Austen. The first edition was published in 1814 by Thomas Edgerton, and the second edition was published in 1816 by John Murray, who also founded The Quarterly Review. Austen published the novel in three volumes, and it is considered the most serious of her novels. This novel never received critical reception until 1821. She wrote Mansfield Park while living in Chawton, and the announcement that the writer of Sence and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice would be publishing another novel caused the readers to buy out Austen’s third novel in six months. The controversy over the novel’s themes and main characters, particularly Fanny Price, left audiences feeling that Pride and Prejudice remained superior and most favored the brilliance of her second novel. Austen herself stated the novel would not be half as great as the success of her second. Although the novel has sparked debate over its plot and characters for two hundred years, it remains to be a heartwarming narrative delivered by one of the most significant literary geniuses of the 19th century. 

Austen, Jane, and June Sturrock. “Jane Austen: A Brief Chronology” Mansfield Park, Broadview Press, Peterborough, Ontario, 2003, p. 30.

“Mansfield Park.” Jane Austen Society of North America, Jane Austen Society of North America, https://jasna.org/austen/works/mansfield-park/.