Jane's Contemporaries

Mary, Countess of Belmore: Mistress of the Upper Rooms

Our Theatre has been well attended this week. On Wednesday evening the performances were patronized by Lieut-Col.Sturt and the Officers of the 59th Regiment, for the Benefit of Mr.Tockley. The hou...

Richard "Beau" Nash: The Original Beau

That the elder ladies and children be contented with a second bench at the ball, as being past or not come to perfection. --Rule VIII of Nash’s Rules by General Consent Determined   Richard ‘Bea...

Elizabeth Montague: Queen of the Bluestockings

Elizabeth Robinson was born very wealthy and well-connected. She grew up in Coveney, Cambridgeshire, under supervision of her grandparents, and was frequent childhood visitor to Cambridge where he...

Beau Brummell: Nothing but a Name Mysteriously Sparkling

The name Beau Brummell is synonymous with Regency England, but what do you know about him? Researching this article I found that people associate him with silks, satins, and snuff, while one thoug...

James Brydges: Cassanda Austen's Princely Uncle

  James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, MP, PC (6 January 1673 – 9 August 1744) was the first of fourteen children by Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th B...

Emma Hamilton: Consort to Lord Horatio Nelson

Emma Hamilton: Consort to Lord Horatio Nelson Emma Hamilton (Lady Hamilton) (April 26, 1765 - January 16, 1815) is best remembered as the mistress of Horatio Nelson. Born "Emily Lyon" in 1765 at S...

Mary Brunton: The Forgotten Scottish Novelist

Author Mary Brunton was a direct contemporary of Jane Austen's and wrote two published novels.

A History Of Bath: Ralph Allen and John Woods (Elder and Younger)

Of the three men generally held to have been responsible for the city of Bath's sensational eighteenth-century development—Ralph Allen, Beau Nash and John Wood the Elder—Allen is arguably the most ...

Mary Robinson: A Life Lived Extraordinarily

Learn about Mary Robinson, poet, novelist and actress.

Joseph Bramah: Inventor Extraordinaire

Joseph Bramah's extraordinary invention of the hydraulic press!

John Playford: The English Dancing Master

John Playford may have lived some time before Austen, but the English Dancing Master, published by Playford, influenced country dancing for centuries to come.

Sir Walter Scott: Author & Critic

A biography of influential Scottish novelist, Sir Walter Scott