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Who was Charlotte Bronte? Novelist and poet. Date and Place of Birth: 21st April 1816, The Vicarage, Thornton, Yorkshire, England. Family Background: Daughter of a Cleric, Patrick Bronte and sister to Branwell, Emily and Anne Bronte. Education: Clergy Daughter's School, Cowan Bridge. Miss Wooler's School, Roe Head. Chronology: 1816: Father appointed perpetual curate at Haworth. 1820: (March 25th ) Anne Baptised in the "Old Bell Chapel" at Thornton. (April) Bronte family move to Parsonage at Haworth 1821: (September 15th) Death of her mother. 1825: (May 6th) Death of her sisters Maria (aged 11) and (June 15th) Elizabeth (aged 10) from consumption. 1829: She takes up writing about her fantasy world of Glasstown and Angria. All the Bronte children receive art lessons from John Bradley of Keighley. 1832: Returns home to help tutor Sisters. 1835: Goes back to Roe Head School as a teacher. 1838: Returns to Haworth after handing in her resignation. 1842: (February) Goes to Brussels with Emily to study at the Pensionat Heger. (November) Death of her Aunt Elizabeth and they return home. 1843: Returns to Brussels to teach English and to further studies. 1844: Returns home and tries to open a school in Haworth but there are no takers for such an isolated spot. 1845: Branwell suggests to his sisters that novel writing is a profitable business. 1846: (May) "Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell" (The sister's pseudonyms) published with the family paying the costs. Offers "The Professor" for publication without success. (August) begins writing "Jane Eyre". 1847: (October) "Jane Eyre" published and is highly acclaimed. December "Wuthering Heights" by Emily and "Agnes Grey" by Anne are both published. 1848: (June )"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" by Anne is published. (24th September) Death of brother Branwell from consumption. (19th December) Death of sister Emily from consumption. 1849: (January) Anne is examined at Haworth by Doctor Teale and found to have consumption. (May 25th) Goes with Anne and her friend Ellen Nussey to Scarborough. (May 26th ) Anne goes swimming alone but collapses. In the afternoon she drives herself on South Sands in a donkey cart. (May 27th) Charlotte discusses with Anne about returning to Haworth but it is too late. (28th May) Death of Anne from Consumption. (October) Publication of "Shirley". 1852: Visits Anne's Grave and realises there are several mistakes on the tombstone which she has corrected. 1853: Publication of "Villette." (1893): The Bronte Society Established. Written Works: 1846: “Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell”. 1847: "The Professor (Published 1857). "Jane Eyre". 1849: “Shirley”. 1853: “Villette”. (1925): "The Twelve Adventurers and Other Stories." (1933): "The Legends of Angria". (1971): "Five Novellettes" A collection of Juvenilia. Marriage: 29th June 1854: To Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father's curate despite objections from her father. Places of Interest: YORKSHIRE: Brontë Parsnage Museum Haworth, Keighley West Yorkshire BD22 8DR. www.bronte.info/ Oakwell Hall Country Park, Batley. (area visited in "Shirley"). Red House Museum, Gomersal. (Former home of her friend Mary Taylor). Thornfield Hall, Ripon. (mentioned in "Jane Eyre"). Date and Place of Death: 31st March 1855, Haworth, Yorkshire, England, in the early stages of pregnancy of excessive vomiting. Age at Death: 38. Site of Grave: St. Michael and All Angels Church, Haworth, Yorkshire, England.