Search the Collection

Fanny Kemble

(1809-1893), Actor and author

Frances Anne ('Fanny') Kemble

Sitter in 24 portraits
A successful actress from a theatrical family; her father was Charles Kemble and her aunt, Sarah Siddons. Following a string of London hits she travelled to America. There she married an American planter, Pierce Butler, in 1834. Visiting his estates in Georgia, she was appalled that the source of his wealth was slavery and tried to alleviate the suffering she found there. They divorced in 1848-9. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, her Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-9 was published in 1863 by abolitionists. She lived in Britain and in the United States, writing and occasionally giving public readings. She is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

ListThumbnail

Family Tree

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.