Author of the day: Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter, the children's author and illustrator responsible for The Tale of Peter Rabbit and 22 more books in 'The Tale of' series. Beatrix Potter was born Helen Beatrix Potter on July 28th, 1866 in Kensington, London, England to Helen and Rupert Potter. Both of Beatrix's parents were talented artistically, and because of smart investments in the stock market by her father, the family was very wealthy. Beatrix and her younger brother Bertram were educated by governesses, and the family spent their summers on a Scottish estate and later at Wray Castle near Windermere, giving Beatrix her inspiration for future children's books' settings. Beatrix self-published but it was soon published commercially by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902. This was the beginning of a career that would continue until Beatrix Potter's death in 1943.


There are drawings by Beatrix Potter that she made when she was only nine years old, in Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.
In 1880 Beatrix was awarded the Art Student's Certificate by South Kensington Museum with 'excellent' in both drawing and freehand.
In 1885 Beatrix Potter got her first rabbit which she named Benjamin Bouncer.
In 1887 Beatrix Potter became very ill with rheumatic fever.
In 1890 Beatrix sold her first drawings. The drawings were used as greeting cards and for the illustrations for a book by Frederic E. Weatherly titled A Happy Pair.
In 1893 Beatrix sent drawings of her new pet rabbit Peter to her former governess' child Noel Moore.
Beatrix Potter drew many pictures of fungi and other botanicals, some of which were used in books and annuals.
Peter Rabbit died in January 1901. The following December Beatrix Potter privately published The Tale of Peter Rabbit in McGregor's Garden. She rejected an offer of publication by Frederick Warne a few months before because he wanted her to color her pictures.
In 1901 the first commercial printing of Beatrix's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published, by Frederick Warne.
In 1903 Beatrix Potter registered her Peter Rabbit doll with the patent office, following the publication of several more of her books.
In 1905 Beatrix Potter's editor, Norman Warne proposed, but died a month later.
Between 1905 and 1909 Beatrix Potter bought two farms.
In 1912 Beatrix Potter accepted a marriage proposal from William Heelis, a solicitor. They married almost a year later.
In 1936 Walt Disney made an offer to make a movie of Peter Rabbit but Beatrix refused.
Beatrix Potter became sick with bronchitis and heart issues in 1943, and died at the age of 77 at Castle Cottage. Her ashes were scattered on her land.
Two years later, when Beatrix Potter's husband died, their land and property was donated to the National Trust.
Beatrix Potter left most of her original drawings to the National Trust. Frederick Warne & Company received copyright to her stories and to the merchandise.
Beatrix Potter wrote 28 books, which have been translated into over 35 different languages. More than 100 million copies of her books have been sold, and she is one of the best-selling and most well-loved children's authors of all time.