Jane Cannan facts for kids

Jane Cannan (born 1822, died 1861) was a talented artist who was British and also lived in Australia. She is known for her drawings of early Melbourne, Australia.

Early Life and Family

Jane Dorothea Claude was born in 1822. Her family had Huguenot roots from Berlin, Germany. Huguenots were French Protestants who often had to leave their home country. Jane grew up in England, first in Liverpool and then in Ambleside. This area is part of the beautiful Lake District.

Before becoming an artist, Jane worked as a charity helper and a school teacher. In 1853, she married David Cannan. He worked for a company that made special metal products. These included corrugated and galvanized iron, which were used for buildings.

Life in Australia

After they married, Jane and David Cannan sailed to Melbourne, Australia. David worked there as an agent for his company for four years. During this time, Jane Cannan created many drawings. Her pictures of Melbourne's towns and buildings are very important. They show us what Australia looked like a long time ago.

Jane and David had three children. Their first daughter, Louisa, sadly died as a baby in Melbourne. Their sons, Charles and Edwin, grew up to be very successful. Charles Cannan became a respected scholar at Oxford University in England. Edwin Cannan became a professor at the London School of Economics.

Jane Cannan also has famous grandchildren. Her granddaughter, Joanna Cannan, became a well-known novelist. Another granddaughter, May Wedderburn Cannan, was a poet.

Later Life and Legacy

Jane Cannan passed away at the age of 38 in 1861. She died from tuberculosis in Madeira, Portugal.

Today, Jane Cannan's sketchbooks and letters are kept in important collections. You can find them at the National Library of Australia in Canberra. They are also at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria and Trinity College, Oxford. These collections help us learn more about her life and her art.

See also

In Spanish: Jane Cannan para niños