William Wilkie Collins (1824 - 1889)

Born 8 Jan 1824 in Marylebone, London, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 23 Sep 1889 at age 65 in London, England, United Kingdom

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Author of "The Woman in White, (1859)".

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Biography

Wilkie Collins was born in the City of London, England.

Wilkie Collins is Notable.

William Collins was born on the 8th of January 1824 at Marylebone in London, England, the elder son of landscape artist, William Collins and Harriet Geddes.^[1]

William Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. Today he is best known for The Moonstone (1868), often regarded as the first true detective novel, and The Woman in White (1860), the archetypal sensation novel. During his lifetime, however, he wrote over thirty major books, well over a hundred articles, short stories and essays, and a dozen or more plays.^[2][3]

Named after his father, he swiftly became known by his second name (which honoured his godfather, David Wilkie). ^[3]

Wilkins had liasons with two woman during his lifetime, firstly Caroline Elizabeth Graves nee Compton, a widow with a daughter, whom he lived with on and off for about 30 years, and who is buried with him, and secondly, Martha Rudd or Dawson, the daughter of James and Mary Rudd, born Norfolk, who he met when he was about 40. They carried on a relationship under the assumed Mr & Mrs William Dawson, which produced three children, Marion, Harriet and Charles. His and Martha's children are named in his will (see also)

[Extract] "Wilkie lived an unconventional, Bohemian lifestyle, loved good food and wine to excess, wore flamboyant clothes, travelled abroad frequently, formed long-term relationships with two women but married neither, and took vast quantities of opium over many years to relieve the symptoms of ill health. Collins's circle of friends included many pre-eminent figures of the day. He knew the major writers, particularly Charles Dickens with whom he regularly collaborated, as well as a host of minor novelists. His friends and acquaintances included some of the foremost artists, playwrights, theatrical personalities, musicians, publishers, physicians and society figures of the time. Collins's unorthodox lifestyle reveals a cynical regard for the Victorian establishment. This view is reflected in his books together with a sense of humour and a profound understanding for many of the then prevailing social injustices."^[2]

Wilkie Collins died suddenly in London, aged 65, and was buried in the Kensal Green Cemetery.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (link : 22 March 2020), William Wilkie Collins, 1824.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Wilkie Collins Biography
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Wilkie Collins at Wikipedia
4. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (link: 31 December 2014), William Wilkie Collins, 1889; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Marylebone, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

See Also:

• Wilkie Collins Will - notes>. 2020. Web40571.Clarahost.Co.Uk.>Will link
• Find a Grave, database and images  : accessed 29 August 2020), memorial page for Wilkie Collins (8 Jan 1824–23 Sep 1889), Find A Grave: Memorial #1934, citing Kensal Green Cemetery, Kensal Green, London Borough of Brent, Greater London, England ; Maintained by Find A Grave .
• Wilkie Collins at Wikipedia
• The Wilkie Collins Pages, BBC selected Web resource
• Wilkie Collins Biography by Andrew Gasson, under copyright.
• "The Secret Life Of Wilkie Collins By William M. Clarke.". 2010.>Thingsmeanalot.Com.>Ana S., online blog, 2010