Beatrix Potter
(1866-1943)

woman, author, and artist

Died aged 77

Helen Beatrix Potter (/ˈbiːətrɪks/, 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was her first published work in 1902. Her books, including 23 Tales, have sold more than 250 million copies. Potter was also a pioneer of merchandising—in 1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented stuffed toy, making him the oldest licensed character. Born into an upper-middle-class household, Potter was educated by governesses and grew up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets and spent holidays in Scotland and the Lake District, developing a love of landscape, flora and fauna, all of which she closely observed and painted. Potter's study and watercolours of fungi led to her being widely respected in the field of mycology. In her thirties, Potter self-published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Following this, Potter began writing and illustrating children's books full-time. Potter wrote over 60 books; the best known being her . With the proceeds from the books and a legacy from an aunt, in 1905 Potter bought Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, a village in the Lake District, in the county of Cumbria (then Lancashire). Over the following decades, she purchased additional farms to preserve the unique hill country landscape. In 1913, at the age of 47, she married William Heelis, a respected local solicitor from Hawkshead. Potter was also a prize-winning breeder of Herdwick sheep and a prosperous farmer keenly interested in land preservation. She continued to write and illustrate, and to design spin-off merchandise based on her children's books for British publisher Warne until the duties of land management and her diminishing eyesight made it difficult to continue. Potter died of pneumonia and heart disease on 22 December 1943 at her home in Near Sawrey at the age of 77, leaving almost all her property to the National Trust. She is credited with preserving much of the land that now constitutes the Lake District National Park. Potter's books continue to sell throughout the world in many languages with her stories being retold in songs, films, ballet, and animations, and her life is depicted in two films and a television series.

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Family tree

Commemorated on 8 plaques

Beatrix Potter lived in a house on the site from 1866 to 1913

Bousfield Primary School, South Bolton Gardens, Chelsea, London, United Kingdom where they lived

Beatrix Potter 1866-1943 author and artist. While staying at 2 Croft Terrace in 1900 drew the pond in the garden which featured in the Tale of Peter Rabbit.

2 Croft Terrace, Tenby, United Kingdom where they stayed and drew the pond in the garden which featured in the Tale of Peter Rabbit

Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) renowned children's story teller, author and artist famous for Peter Rabbit book. Beatrix's maternal grandparents John and Jane Leech bought the Gorse Hall Estate after their marriage and built the Gorse Hall Mansion which was demolished in 1910. Born in London, Beatrix in later life made several visits to her grand parents and recorded her fond memories of theplace.

Gorse Hall Estate, Stalybridge, United Kingdom where they was

Hardcragg Hall The oldest house in Grange, Hardcragg Hall is dated 1563. England's famous Ironmaster, John Wilkinson, once lived here. He sailed the first iron built boat on Winster River only two miles away, manufactured pipes for a new water system in Paris and fashioned the cannon used by Wellington who defeated Napolean at Waterloo in 1815. Another resident, W.G. Marshal Townley introduced Jersey cows to this area. Beatrix Potter became a regular visitor to the hall which had its own piggery. There she"met" a friendly "porker"who later became Pigling Bland, a character in one of her successful story books. The site of this piggery is thought to be the present Grange library. Pig Lane to the east of the library derives its name from this.

Grange Fell Road, Grange-over-Sands, United Kingdom where they visited

Former 17th century coaching inn illustrated by Beatrix Potter in Tales of Little Pig Robinson

Mariners Restaurant, Silver Street, Lyme Regis, United Kingdom where they sketched

Beatrix Potter 1866-1943 author and illustrator wrote "The Tale of two Bad Mice" and "The Pie and the Patty Pan" at 16 Robertson Terrace

Debenhams, Robertson Terrace, Hastings, United Kingdom where they wrote

St. Michael's Gate. The entrance to the lay cemetery of the abbey was also used by pilgrims to the shrine of Edward II. Beatrix Potter's 'Tailor of Gloucester' "lived" in the ship to the left of this gate.

, Gloucester, United Kingdom where they wrote about

Buckle Yeat. This features in many of Beatrix Potters books, including The Tale of Tom Kitten, Pie & The Patty Pan and Piggling Bland

Buckle Yeat Guest House, Sawrey, United Kingdom where they wrote about