Frances Anne Kemble, 1809 - 1893

Born in London in 1809, Frances Anne Kemble, more commonly known as Fanny, was a woman of talent, strong character, and resilience. She was well known for her acting ability but also for her choice in marriage.

In 1834, Fanny married one of her many admirers, Pierce Butler, a wealthy Southern plantation owner. The couple first resided in Philadelphia, where Fanny had difficulty adjusting to common city society. Also, her relationship with her husband was greatly strained by his strong connections with slave-holding, his infidelity, and his desire for a submissive and subservient wife. Fanny endured a complicated divorce and separation from her two daughters while managing to support herself by acting and writing.

Despite hardship, Frances Anne Kemble established herself as a prominent woman of the nineteenth century.