Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter was born on July 28th, 1866 in Kensington, London to a wealthy Victorian family. She was educated by governesses who encouraged her to write and taught her art and music. When she was 27 she drew a picture and wrote a story for a young sick friend about four little rabbits. Nine years later the now classic story, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, was published and it was an overnight success. Beatrix was devastated after her fiancé and publisher, Norman Warne, fell ill and died unexpectedly. She later married a lawyer, William Heelis at the age of 47. Her literary work diminished after 1918 as her eyesight deteriorated. She devoted her last thirty years to raising Herdwick sheep and investing in real estate. Beatrix was the first president of the Herdwick Sheepbreeders' Association, which still exists today. Beatrix Potter died on December 22, 1943 in Lancashire. She bequeathed fourteen farms, including Hill Top Farm, the setting of several of her books and 4,000 acres to the British National Trust. --Blackstone Audio