Ellen Creathorne Clayton, Mrs Needham; 15 February 1834 – 19 July 1900), born Eleanor Creathorne Clayton, was an author and artist.

Biography

Eleanor Creathorne Clayton was born in Dublin on 15 February 1834 but moved to London with her father in 1841. Her father,

Benjamin Clayton III Benjamin Clayton III (6 January 1809 – 11 August 1883) was an Irish wood engraver and miniature painter. Life Benjamin Clayton III was born in Dublin on 6 January 1809. His parents were Benjamin Clayton II, a wood engraver, and Eleanor Creat ...

, was a wood engraver. Her grandfather,

Benjamin Clayton II Benjamin Clayton II (1786 – 17 November 1862) was an Irish wood engraver. Life Benjamin Clayton II was born in Dublin in 1786, and was baptised in St John's Church. His father was wood engraver, Benjamin Clayton I. He had two brothers, Samuel ...

, and her great-grandfather

Benjamin Clayton I Benjamin Clayton I (circa 1754 – 1814) was an Irish wood engraver. Life Benjamin Clayton I was born in Dublin around 1754. His father was a clock-maker. Clayton was married twice. He had 3 sons with his first wife, Samuel, Benjamin, and Rober ...

, were also wood engravers. Her aunt,

Caroline Millard Caroline Millard (also known as Mrs Millard) (died 26 April 1894) was an Irish wood engraver. Life Caroline Millard was born Caroline Clayton in Dublin, she was the daughter of the wood engraver, Benjamin Clayton II. In 1841, she married the E ...

, was wood engraver based in Dublin. Clayton was contributing articles and illustrations from the age of fourteen to a number of papers including Sala's paper as well as two of her father's publications, ''Chat'' and ''Punchinello''. Though she is best known for her dictionary of English women painters, Clayton also wrote a number of novels and histories.Volume II
of ''English female artists'', includes an autobiography on page 324 Clayton created cards and calendars as well. In February 1879, Clayton married solicitor James Henry Needham but continued to publish under her maiden name. She died in a nursing home in London in 1900.

Bibliography

* ''The world's Fair'' (1851) * ''Notable women'' (1859, reprinted 1875) * ''Women of the Reformation'' (1861) *''Queens of song: being memoirs of some of the most celebrated female vocalists who have appeared on the lyric state, from the earliest days of opera to the present time: To which is added a chronological list of all the operas that have been performed in Europe'' (1865) * ''Female warriors'' (1879) * ''A girl's destiny'' (1882) *'' English Female Artists'', 2 volumes, 1876

References

External links

* 1834 births 1900 deaths 19th-century British women writers 19th-century British writers 19th-century British artists {{UK-painter-19thC-stub