Anna Hanson Dorsey

Anna Hanson Dorsey (DOR-see; 12 December 1815 – 25 December 1896) was an American novelist known for her contributions to Catholic literature in the 19th century. Born in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., she was raised Protestant but later converted to Catholicism, which influenced much of her writing. Dorsey authored more than 40 novels that explored themes of faith, religious conversion, and Southern Catholic life. Her works received recognition from prominent Catholic figures, including commendations from two popes, and she was awarded the Laetare Medal by the University of Notre Dame. Dorsey's novels have continued to be appreciated for their storytelling and portrayal of American Catholic culture.

Life

Anna Hanson Dorsey was born Anna McKenney in December 1815, in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. She was the daughter of Rev. William McKenney, a Protestant clergyman and chaplain in the United States Navy, and Chloe Ann Lanigan McKenney. Dorsey's great-grandfather, was Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Hanson of Green Hill.

Dorsey was raised in a Protestant family, and she converted to Catholicism during her youth.

In 1837, at the age of twenty-four, she married Lorenzo Dorsey of Baltimore, son of Judge Owen Dorsey. Shortly after their marriage, the couple converted to the Catholic faith.

Their son was mortally wounded while serving for the Union during the American Civil War, reportedly while planting the American flag on the ramparts of Fort Hill. She had three daughters, one of them, Ella Loraine Dorsey, later became a recognized author. The eldest daughter, Clara H. Muhun, was a prominent figure and one of the earliest members in the Literary Society of Washington.