William Harrison Ainsworth

English novelist (1805-1882)

Born: February 4, 1805, Cheetham Hill
Died: January 3, 1882, Reigate
Nationality: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Occupation: Writer, journalist and novelist
Notable works: The Lancashire Witches

Life and work

William Harrison Ainsworth (4 February 1805 – 3 January 1882) was an English historical novelist, born at King Street in Manchester. He trained as a lawyer, but the legal profession held no attraction for him. While completing his legal studies in London he met the publisher John Ebers, at that time manager of the King's Theatre, Haymarket. Ebers introduced Ainsworth to literary and dramatic circles, and to his daughter, who became Ainsworth's wife.

Ainsworth briefly tried the publishing business, but soon gave it up and devoted himself to journalism and literature. His first success as a writer came with Rookwood in 1834, which features Dick Turpin as its leading character. A stream of 39 novels followed, the last of which appeared in 1881. Ainsworth died in Reigate on 3 January 1882, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Text: “William Harrison Ainsworth”, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under the license CC BY-SA 4.0. Dates and facts: Wikidata.

Collection