The BrontëFamily History

Presented to you

by Evelyn Mather

The Brontë Family

Patrick and Marie Brontë

Maria BranwellAnneEmilyCharlotteElizabeth

Haworth (1820-1861)

The Brontes moved to Haworth from Thornton in 1820 where the Reverend Patrick Bronte was appointed Curate of Haworth.

Mrs Bronte died of cancer on 15th September 1821 leaving the care of her 6 children to her sister, Elizabeth Branwell.

In 1825 Maria and Elizabeth died.

For the next 6 years Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell stayed at the Parsonage, where they wrote many short manuscripts about fantasy worlds such as Gondal and Angria.

The Brontë Parsonage at Haworth

The Working Years….

In 1831 Charlotte worked at a school in Mirfield.

Branwell tried to become a portrait painter . . . with little success.

Emily worked for a short time at a school in Halifax.

From 1839 to 1840 Anne worked as a governess to the Ingham family at Blake Hall, Mirfield.

From 1840 to 1845 she works for the Robinson family at Thorp Green York (For a while Branwell joined Anne as a tutor, which reportedly ended in disgrace for allegedly having an affair with his employer's wife.)

In 1842 their aunt and caretaker, Elizabeth Branwell, died, leaving the Bronte family with an inheritance large enough to publish a collection of their poems.

Getting Published…

Charlotte, Emily and Anne published their works using the pen names of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell.

The collection only sold two copies, but this failed success did not hinder the sisters from writing and publishing more literature.

Charlotte Brontë

After the book of poems was published in May of 1846, Charlotte tried to publish her novel the Professor, but it was refused.

She began to write the novel Jane Eyre that following summer and in October 1847 it was published and quickly became a best seller.

Shirley published in October 1849. Villette published in January 1853.

Emily Brontë

Emily began to write Wuthering Heights just before the collection of poems was published in 1846.

Wuthering Heights was published in December 1847.

After her death, a second edition of Wuthering Heights was published in 1850, that had selected poems by Emily and a preface written by Charlotte.

Anne Brontë

Anne contributed 21 poems to the collection of poems published by the three sisters.

In December of 1847. Agnes Grey was published.

In July of 1849, Anne completed the novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

All good things must come to an end…

Branwell’ health deteriorated due to alcohol and opium addiction. He died on the 24th of September, 1848 at the age of 31.

Emily died from tuberculosis at the age of 30, on the 19th of December, 1848.

Anne was also ill from tuberculosis and went to Scarborough on the 24th of May hoping that the sea air might cure her. She died four days later on the 28th May 1849, 29 years old.

Life goes on…

After the death of her sisters, Charlotte continued writing and publishing.

On June 29th,1854 she married her father’s curate, Arthur Bell Nichols

Nothing gold can stay…

Charlotte began writing a novel, Emma, but died before it was finished.

She died, pregnant, on March 31st, 1855.

In 1857, her previously rejected novel The Professor was published posthumously.

The cheese stands alone…

Patrick Bronte continued to live at the parsonage in Haworth.

He died there on June 7th,1861 at the age of 84, outliving all his loved ones.