Jessie Saxby facts for kids
Jessie Margaret Saxby (born June 30, 1842 – died December 27, 1940) was a Scottish writer and expert in folklore. She came from Unst, one of the Shetland Islands. Jessie Saxby was also interested in politics and supported women's right to vote, known as a suffragette.
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Early Life and Family
Jessie Saxby was born on June 30, 1842, in a house called Halligarth in Baltasound, on the island of Unst. Her father was Laurence Edmondston, a doctor and a naturalist. A naturalist is someone who studies nature, like plants and animals.
Her mother was Eliza Macbrair, who was a journalist and a published author. Jessie's parents had eleven children in total. One of her brothers was Thomas Edmondston, who became a famous botanist, someone who studies plants. Jessie Saxby herself said that she did not have much formal schooling.
Marriage and Children
On December 16, 1859, Jessie married Henry Saxby. He was also a doctor and an ornithologist, which means he studied birds. They had six children together, but sadly, their only daughter died when she was a baby.
The family lived on Unst, where Henry worked with Jessie's father. In 1871, Henry's health was not good, so they moved to Edinburgh. The next year, in 1872, they moved again to Inveraray. Henry Saxby passed away in 1873 when he was only 37 years old.
As a widow with children to care for, Jessie had to earn money from her writing. She lived in Edinburgh for 17 years before moving back to Unst in 1890. Her son, Thomas Edmondston Saxby, also became a doctor and an ornithologist, just like his father. He lived and worked at Halligarth, the house where Jessie was born.
Writing Career
Jessie Saxby started her writing career in the 1860s. She wrote many tales and poems that were printed in different places. Her first book of poetry, Lichens from the Old Rock, was published in 1868. She went on to write 47 books in total!
Her books covered many different topics. She wrote romantic stories, tales about folklore, and especially adventure stories for boys. Jessie Saxby also wrote about 100 articles. These articles appeared in newspapers, journals, and magazines like Life and Work and The Boy's Own Paper.
Connection to Sherlock Holmes
Jessie Saxby even wrote a book about Dr. Joseph Bell. He was a real doctor who is thought to be the inspiration for the famous detective character, Sherlock Holmes. Her book was called "Joseph Bell...an appreciation by an old friend" and was published in 1913. At the end of the book, Jessie wrote about Dr. Bell: "As he had lived, Joe Bell died, brave, self-forgetful, upheld by the Divine...I shall not see his like again."
See also
In Spanish: Jessie Saxby para niños
