Origins & Early Life

Emily Jane Brontë (, commonly ; 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English writer best known for her 1847 novel Wuthering Heights. She also co-authored a book of poetry with her sisters Charlotte and Anne entitled Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Emily was the fifth of six Brontë siblings, four of whom survived into adulthood. Her mother, Maria Branwell, died when she was three, leaving the children in the care of their aunt, Elizabeth Branwell.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Apart from brief intervals at school, Emily was mostly taught at home by her father, Patrick Brontë, who was the curate of Haworth. She was very close to her siblings, especially her younger sister Anne, and together they wrote books and journals depicting imaginary worlds named Glass Town, Angria and Gondal. She was described by her sister Charlotte as solitary, strong-willed and nonconforming, with a keen love of nature and animals. Apart from a brief period at school, and another as a student and teacher in Brussels with her sister Charlotte, Emily spent most of her life at home in Haworth, helping the family servant with chores, playing the piano and teaching herself from books. Her work was originally published under the pen...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander II of Russia — Contemporary (Born in 1818) (1818): Emperor of Russia, known as 'The Liberator' for abolishing serfdom.
• Elizabeth F. Ellet — Contemporary (Born in 1818) (1818): American writer, poet, and historian, celebrated for chronicling women's roles in the American Revolution.
• Frederick Douglass — Contemporary (Born in 1818) (1818): Pioneering abolitionist, orator, and statesman for African-American civil rights.
• Bernard Bosanquet (philosopher) — Contemporary (Born in 1848) (1848): Influential English philosopher and political theorist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Brooks Adams — Contemporary (Born in 1848) (1848): American historian and political scientist known for his critiques of capitalism.
• Caroline Herschel — Contemporary (Died in 1848) (1848): Pioneering astronomer, famed for comet discoveries and professional scientific career.
• Andrew Strominger — Shared historical date (07-30 · Born) (1955): American theoretical physicist specializing in quantum gravity and string theory.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger — Shared historical date (07-30 · Born) (1947): Iconic Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, and politician.
• Al-Ghazali — Shared historical date (12-19 · Died) (1111): Influential Sunni polymath, theologian, and mystic of the 11th century.
• Alan Eustace — Shared historical date (12-19 · Born) (1956): Pioneering computer scientist known for his work at Google and record-breaking space dive.
• 1818 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1818
• July 30 (07-30) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 30
• 1848 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1848
• December 19 (12-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 19