Georgiana Burne-Jones

Georgiana, Lady Burne-Jones (née MacDonald), was born on July 21, 1840, in Birmingham, England. She was the second oldest of the MacDonald sisters, the daughter of Reverend George Browne Macdonald and Hannah Macdonald (née Jones). Her father was a Methodist minister, and the family moved frequently during her childhood, returning to Birmingham in September 1850. Her elder brother Harry attended King Edward's School, through whom Georgiana and her sisters connected with a social circle known as the Birmingham Set or "Pembroke Set," which included future notable figures such as Edward Burne-Jones.

In her youth, Georgiana was introduced to Edward Burne-Jones, a member of the Birmingham Set, who studied theology at Exeter College, Oxford. There, he met William Morris, and together with other members of the Birmingham Set, they formed "The Brotherhood," a group influenced by John Ruskin, Tennyson, and medieval aesthetics. Burne-Jones and Morris were influenced by the artwork of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, whom they recruited for their magazine projects, and both decided to pursue careers in art, with Burne-Jones leaving college before completing his degree.

The MacDonald family relocated to London in 1853 following the death of Georgiana's sister Carrie, who succumbed to tuberculosis. The family resided at various addresses including Sloane Square, Walpole Street, and Beaumont Street in Marylebone. In 1860, Georgiana moved to Russell Street after her marriage, which was to take place two months later. She had become engaged to Edward Burne-Jones in June 1856, at the age of 15. Their courtship was based on shared artistic interests; Georgiana was able to visit Burne-Jones's studio and was introduced to prominent figures like John Ruskin.

Georgiana and Edward Burne-Jones were married on June 9, 1860, in Manchester. She was 19 years old at the time, and he was 27. Their marriage was preceded by a four-year engagement. At the time of their marriage, they had limited financial resources, and Georgiana moved into rented rooms in Great Russell Street. Early in their marriage, they spent summers working on decorative projects at William Morris's Red House. Their first child, Philip Burne-Jones, was born on October 21, 1861. In 1864, Philip contracted scarlet fever, and Georgiana also fell ill, which led to the premature birth and subsequent death of her second child, Christopher, who was infected and died shortly after birth.

Following her illness, Georgiana refused to return to their previous residence, moving instead to Kensington Square, where their daughter Margaret was born in 1866. She had three sisters—Louisa, Alice, and Agnes—who married notable individuals including Alfred Baldwin, John Lockwood Kipling, and Edward Poynter. Their youngest sister Edith cared for their parents and published a family history.

In her artistic pursuits, Georgiana attended the Government School of Design but later downplayed her art education, noting limited learning experiences. She created a few surviving artworks, including woodcuts and watercolors. In 1856, she took art lessons from Ford Madox Brown and worked on decorative arts projects with Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., primarily painting tiles before giving up her studio work after the birth of her son.

Her friendships included close relationships with William Morris and George Eliot. She met George Eliot in 1868 and formed a meaningful friendship until Eliot's marriage in 1880, which caused a rift that remained unresolved after Eliot's death in December of that year. She maintained a long-standing close relationship with Morris until his death.

In 1880, the Burne-Jones family purchased Prospect House in Rottingdean, Sussex, serving as their holiday home. They also acquired nearby Aubrey Cottage, creating North End House. Georgiana Burne-Jones was active in public life, serving as a Trustee of the South London Gallery and being elected to the parish council of Rottingdean.

She authored “The Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones,” a biography of her husband, and published his “Flower Book.” Her family included the diplomat and painter Philip Burne-Jones, and her children, among others, included novelist Angela Thirkell, and authors Denis and Clare Mackail. Her nephews included Rudyard Kipling, the novelist, and Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister. Georgiana died on February 2, 1920.