Frances Burney

Justine Crump (University of Cambridge)
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Frances Burney, the third child of Charles Burney and Esther Sleepe Burney, was born in Kings Lynn in 1752. The Burneys were descended from an aristocratic Scottish family, but Frances's grandfather had been an itinerant actor and portrait painter. Charles Burney aspired to restore his family name, and from humble beginnings as a music teacher and performer he raised his social and professional standing through his writings on the science and history of music. He took a Doctorate of Music from Oxford University in 1769. The Sleepe family was of lower social origins, and Esther's father was leader of the Lord Mayor's band.

The Burney household, relocated to London in 1760, was devoted to the arts, and frequented by musicians, artists, and authors, including David Garrick, Sir Joshua

2665 words

Citation: Crump, Justine. "Frances Burney". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 October 2001 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5199, accessed 19 March 2024.]

5199 Frances Burney 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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