Dickens, Fanny |
| SINGER, PIANIST (ENGLAND) |
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BORN 28 Aug 1810, Landport, Hampshire - DIED 2 Sep 1848, Islington, Greater London BIRTH NAME Dickens, Frances Elizabeth CAUSE OF DEATH tuberculosis GRAVE LOCATION London: Highgate Cemetery West, Swain's Lane, Highgate (Square 32, Grave 2838 (Burnett grave)) |
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Fanny Dickens was the eldest of the eight children of the clerk John Dickens and his wife Elizabeth Dickens, née Barrow. Fanny was the younger sister of the famous author Charles Dickens. Her musical talent earned her a place at the Royal Academy of Music in 1823. Her parents could hardly afford the fees and it was unusual that a daughter was educated instead of a son. She studied singing and piano with Ignaz Moscheles. In 1835 she sang in a concert in a group including Henry Burnett, who had studied at the Academy as well. They married on 13 September 1837 at St. Luke's Church, chelsea. In 1839 their son Henry Augustus was born and another son, Charles Dickens Kneller, was born in 1841. Young Henry was sickly and may have inspired Charles Dickens for Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol" (1843). They moved to Manchester, where they continued their singing careers. But Fanny's career declined due to mothership. She started to suffer from tuberculosis and the family returned to London for treatment. But she died in 1848 of her illness and was buried at the western section of Highgate Cemetery. Young Henry died in 1849 and was buried beside her. Related persons • is brother/sister of Dickens, Charles |
| Images |
 The grave of Frances Elizabeth Dickens at Highgate West Cemetery in London. Picture by Androom (15 Jun 2022) |
Sources • Fanny Dickens - Wikipedia |
