Lifespan: 1808-1877
Nationality: English
Types of Work: Novels, poetry, political pamphlets, plays
Bio:
Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Sheridan was born in London on 22 March 1808 to Thomas Sheridan and Caroline Henrietta Callander. Her father was an actor, soldier, and colonial administrator. Her mother a novelist who penned three novels.
Caroline's father died in South Africa in 1817, leaving his family in dire financial straits. Prince Frederick, a friend of Caroline's grandfather, arranged for the family to live in a "grace and favor" apartment at Hampton Court Palace, where they remained for several years.
The beauty and accomplishments of the Sheridan girls earned them the nickname "the three graces". All three of the sisters married prominent noblemen. Caroline married, in 1827, George Chapple Norton, who was described as a jealous and possessive husband who was given to violent drunken fits. At his hands, Caroline experienced physical and mental abuse.
Caroline used her wit and beauty, plus her political connections, to set herself up as a brilliant star of society, earning for herself as many enemies as admirers. She counted many literary stars and political nobility among her friends.
In 1836, Caroline left her husband to subsist on her earnings as an author, however, her husband successfully argued in court that, as her husband, he was entitled to her earnings. In retaliation for his stripping her of all her financial resources, Caroline ran up large debts in his name and sent the creditors to collect from him. Soon after their separation, Norton hid the couple's three sons with family members in Scotland, refusing to reveal their whereabouts to Caroline. He then accused her of having had an affair with her close friend, Lord Melbourne, and sued for £10,000. The matter was taken to court and Norton's claim was thrown out. Caroline's reputation was, unfortunately, ruined by the public trial and she was denied a divorce by the court. Her husband also continued to deny her access to their children, as the law in 1836 stated that children were the legal property of their father and prevented the mother's rights. After the tragic death of Caroline's youngest son in 1842. Norton began allowing her to visit with the other two, but retained full custody.
As a result of her unfortunate marital and domestic situation, Caroline became a passionate proponent for the passages of laws the promoted social justice for married and divorced women. Due to her campaigning, parliament passed the "Custody of Infants Act" in 1839, the "Matrimonial Causes Act" in 1857, and the "Married Women's Property Act" in 1870.
Norton died in 1875, and Caroline married an old friend, Scottish historical writer and politician, Sir W. Stirling Maxwell, in March 1877, but tragically died in London only three months later.
In regards to her literary work, much of Caroline's work served as a voice for her desire for social change. She published numerous political pamphlets, books of poetry, novels, and plays.
(A detailed biography is available on Wikipedia.)
Novels:
The Dandies Rout (1825)
The Wife, and Woman's Reward (1835)
Stuart of Dunleath (1851)
Lost and Saved (1863)
Old Sir Douglas (1866)