Elizabeth Sheridan, novelist and diarist, was born in 1758 in Henrietta Street near Convent Garden in London. Her parents were both distinguished literary figures. Frances Sheridan (1724-1766) was a successful novelist and playwright, while Thomas Sheridan (1719?-1788) was an actor and theatrical manager, as well as educationalist. Elizabeth Sheridan was the youngest of four siblings, all of whom would, as adults, achieve varying degrees of literary reputation: Charles Sheridan (1750-1806) as a historian and political pamphleteer; Alicia Sheridan (1753-1816) as a poet and playwright; and, most famously, Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) as a dramatist.

In London, the family moved in literary circles and associated with prominent writers such as Samuel Johnson and Samuel Richardson, but

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Citation: Douglas, Aileen. "Elizabeth Sheridan". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 July 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13266, accessed 23 November 2024.]