July 30th marks the 200th birthday of Emily Brontë. Born in Thornton, West Yorkshire, England on July 30, 1818 to Patrick and Maria Brontë, she was the fifth of six children. Emily's father was an ordained minister of the Church of England. Patrick and Maria met in 1812 and married later that year. Their six children were: Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. In 1820, Patrick accepted a promotion to the town of Haworth and moved his family the 12 miles to join him. During her mother's illness, Brontë's aunt, Elizabeth Branwell, came to stay with them and she stayed with the family permanently after Emily's mother died in 1821.
In 1824, Emily and her older sisters were sent to the Clergy Daughter's School in Cowan Bridge. However, her older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, were sent home in 1825 with tuberculosis and died within six weeks of each other. Because of this, Patrick brought Emily and Charlotte home. The Brontë children then continued their education at home under the tutelage of their father and aunt.
The children began to create imaginary worlds, write stories, and draw maps that were inspired by Branwell's toy soldiers his father bought him. In September 1837, Emily went to teach at the Law Hill School. However, she returned home in March 1838. Then in 1842, Emily and Charlotte went to study in Brussels. After spending 9 months there, they returned home because of the death of their aunt.
Brontë and her sisters, Charlotte and Anne, privately published a book of poetry all under the pseudonyms: Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell in 1846. Then, in 1847, Emily Brontë published her novel, Wuthering Heights , which she published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell.
After the death of her brother in September 1848, Emily fell ill. She passed away December 19, 1848 at the age of 30 from tuberculosis.
Want to learn more about Emily Brontë and read her works? Take a look at the following items.
Add a comment to: Emily Brontë’s 200th Birthday