Henry Frith

Henry Frith (2 May 1840 – 12 October 1917) was an Irish engineer and writer who translated the works of Jules Verne and others, as well as creating his own works. His prolific output amounted to nearly 200 works between translations, novels, and instructional titles.

Early life

Frith was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 2 May 1840, at 2, Upper Leeson Street. He was the second son of Henry Frith and Frances (née Winter). Of his four siblings only two, his eldest and youngest brothers, survived to adulthood. His father worked in the Ordnance Office in Dublin. Frith was educated at Cheltenham College and entered Trinity College Dublin on 1 July 1857 to train as a Civil Engineer. Applying for a Civil Service post, he was appointed to the War Office in London, where he remained until 1875 when he retired with a pension and began his literary efforts.

Frith married Mary Lowndes (April 1844 – 7 June 1928) on 25 May 1869 in Hove, Sussex, England. Mary was the third daughter of William Lowndes (1807–1864) and Marth Sutton (1807–1890). The Lowndes were wealthy, being the ground landlords for Knightsbridge in London. When Mary's step-brother William Lowndes (1834–1905) died, his estate was valued at £452,310. He not only left £7,000 to each of his three half sisters, but also left his real estate (the Knightsbridge ground rents, and the Bury house) together with the residue of his personal estate to Mary's eldest son William Frederick.

The couple had six children:

Ida Mary Frith (1870–1963)

William Frederick Lowndes Frith (1871–1956), changed his surname from Frith to Frith Lowndes in 1906. This was at the request of his step-uncle William Lowndes, in his will, which made William his heir.