Biography

Anne Isabella, Lady Ritchie (1837–1919), writer, was born on 9 June 1837 in London, the elder surviving daughter of William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863) and his wife, Isabella Gethin Creagh Shawe (1816–1893). Beginning with a piece of journalism published in the 'Cornhill Magazine', Annie's first novel, 'The Story of Elizabeth' was published in 1863. This was followed by the publication of several novels over a 25-year period ending with 'Mrs Dymond' in 1885. Annie surprised everybody by marrying, on 2 August 1877, her cousin Richmond Thackeray Willoughby Ritchie (1854–1912), seventeen years her junior. Despite the difference in years, the marriage was a success, and produced two children, Hester and Billy. After the publication of 'Mrs Dymond' Annie confined herself to reminiscences, belles lettres, and the editing of her father's works. Richmond enjoyed a distinguished career as a civil servant at the India Office, and was awarded a KCB in 1907 and a permanent under-secretaryship before dying prematurely of pneumonia in 1912. Having survived the First World War, when the windows of her house in Chelsea were blown in by an enemy bomb, Annie died on 20 February 1919 at her home on the Isle of Wight.

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