William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray, born on 18 July 1811 in Calcutta, was the son of Anne Becher and Richmond Thackeray. After his father's death, Thackeray moved to England for education. Following Charterhouse, he attended Trinity College, Cambridge, but soon left to pursue art and travel. At eighteen, he inherited and lost £20,000 on gambling. In Paris, Thackeray married Isabella Shawe in 1836 and became a prolific freelance journalist. They had three daughters, but Isabella's health declined after childbirth, leading to her institutionalization. Thackeray thrived professionally, gaining fame with "Vanity Fair" and developing a rivalry with Charles Dickens. Despite health and personal challenges, he remained successful until his death on 23 December 1863, securing his daughters' futures with a substantial inheritance.