Elizabeth, Lady Echlin facts for kids

Elizabeth, Lady Echlin (born Elizabeth Bellingham; around 1704 – 1782) was an English writer. She is best known for her letters to the famous author Samuel Richardson. She also wrote a different, less sad ending for his popular novel Clarissa.

Her Life Story

Elizabeth Bellingham was born around 1704. She was the daughter of William Bellingham and Elizabeth Spencer. She was baptized on March 6, 1704, in Rufford, Lancashire. Elizabeth and her sister Dorothy inherited their father's property. They also shared their home with their half-sister, Elizabeth Hesketh.

In 1727, Elizabeth married Sir Robert Echlin, 2nd Baronet. He was an Irish man with Scottish family roots. They lived at his family home, Rush House, Dublin, near the town of Rush in County Dublin. This house was originally built for the Ormond family. Later, it passed to the Palmer family when Elizabeth's daughter, also named Elizabeth, married Francis Palmer. The house burned down in 1827. A grand new house, Kenure House, was built in its place. Today, only its front entrance remains.

Lady Echlin was known for building a special "shell grotto" in her garden around 1755–1756. A grotto is a cave-like structure. This one was decorated with shells and had poems written by Samuel Richardson. A map from 1759 shows its location in Dublin. It was later found being used as a place for cattle.

Sir Robert Echlin passed away in 1757. In 1759, Lady Echlin moved back to England. She died in 1782 while living at Haigh Hall. This estate belonged to her sister Dorothy, Lady Bradshaigh. Lady Echlin was buried on July 9, 1782, in her sister's family burial place. This vault is located in All Saints' Church, Wigan.

Her Writings

Elizabeth Echlin wrote letters to the author Samuel Richardson for eight years. These letters were later published in 1804. They were part of a collection of Richardson's letters put together by Anna Laetitia Barbauld.

Lady Echlin wrote a different ending for Richardson's novel Clarissa. She felt that his original story was "horribly shocking" and too upsetting. Her sister, Lady Bradshaigh, had also written an alternative ending. In her sister's version, Clarissa gets better and lives a single life. The villain, Lovelace, gets hurt and becomes a changed person.

In Lady Echlin's alternative ending, Clarissa still dies from sadness. However, Lovelace changes his ways because of her example. He dies as a good person, believing he will be happy in heaven. Lady Echlin described her own ending as a bit messy. She did not send it to Richardson until six years after his novel was finished. Her version was not published until 1982.