Marion Adams-Acton
Encyclopedia
Marian Adams-Acton was a Scottish
novel
ist. Most of her fiction was written with the pseudonym 'Jeanie Hering'.
on the 21st June 1846, the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Hamilton and a local Island beauty, Elizabeth Hamilton. The Duke owned Brodick castle and one of the regular summer visitors was George Hering, a son of a German Baron and a popular landscape painter. He and his wife Caroline had lost their only child at the age of six and the Duke suggested they adopt Marion. Her mother was reluctant but was persuaded her daughter would get a much better start to life with this well off and well connected couple. They took her to London
at around the age of four returning to their house, Ormidale, on Arran in the summer months. In London she was known as ‘Jeanie Hering’, the name she would use for her children’s books later in life. After receiving a good schooling to the age of sixteen she spent two years at a finishing school
; Westphalia
in Germany
. After returning to London, the family were traveling to Arran by train for the summer when they were fortunate survivors of a train crash that killed hundreds. The Herings house in St John's Wood
was in the midst of thriving artist community and it was no surprise that Jeanie married one of England's top sculptors, John Adams-Acton on the 10 August 1875.
to India
where they spent several months in Bombay
. When they returned they settled in a house in Marylebone
and latter St John’s Wood, where Jeanie became a mother to seven children. When both of her adopted parents died she inherited Ormidale (now a pub/hotel), which she always visited for some time in the summer. Her husband was a close friend of William Ewart Gladstone
, and Jeanie in 1884 organised a large charity event with Mrs Gladstone called ‘The Bee’. She was looking for a new challenge in her life when her husband came home one day and announced that some friends had just walked from London to Dorset
. Enamoured with this idea, she decided that the summer trip to Arran should be made that year on foot. Her husband quite reasonably objected on the grounds that his friends were just a couple, whereas she had six children, the youngest not even a year old; and of course Arran was considerably further than Dorset. Unperturbed she undertook the journey of 500 miles in about 7 weeks, with the poor nurse Ellen having to push the young child in a perambulator
. The story of the journey became her last book, being published in 1894 as ‘Adventures of a Perambulator’. By the 1890s Jeanie was socializing in the highest circles with Kings, Queens and Prime Ministers, and although she wrote plays; one of which was performed at the Strand theatre, she wrote no more fiction. In 1908 her husband had serious injuries when he was knocked over by a car; a lingering illness resulted in his death at Ormidale in 1910.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist. Most of her fiction was written with the pseudonym 'Jeanie Hering'.
Early life and education
Was born Marion Hamilton at Brodick on the Isle of ArranIsle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
on the 21st June 1846, the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Hamilton and a local Island beauty, Elizabeth Hamilton. The Duke owned Brodick castle and one of the regular summer visitors was George Hering, a son of a German Baron and a popular landscape painter. He and his wife Caroline had lost their only child at the age of six and the Duke suggested they adopt Marion. Her mother was reluctant but was persuaded her daughter would get a much better start to life with this well off and well connected couple. They took her to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at around the age of four returning to their house, Ormidale, on Arran in the summer months. In London she was known as ‘Jeanie Hering’, the name she would use for her children’s books later in life. After receiving a good schooling to the age of sixteen she spent two years at a finishing school
Finishing school
A finishing school is "a private school for girls that emphasises training in cultural and social activities." The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the educational experience, with classes primarily on etiquette...
; Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After returning to London, the family were traveling to Arran by train for the summer when they were fortunate survivors of a train crash that killed hundreds. The Herings house in St John's Wood
St John's Wood
St John's Wood is a district of north-west London, England, in the City of Westminster, and at the north-west end of Regent's Park. It is approximately 2.5 miles north-west of Charing Cross. Once part of the Great Middlesex Forest, it was later owned by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem...
was in the midst of thriving artist community and it was no surprise that Jeanie married one of England's top sculptors, John Adams-Acton on the 10 August 1875.
Married Life
Shortly after their marriage they took a tour across EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
where they spent several months in Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. When they returned they settled in a house in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
and latter St John’s Wood, where Jeanie became a mother to seven children. When both of her adopted parents died she inherited Ormidale (now a pub/hotel), which she always visited for some time in the summer. Her husband was a close friend of William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
, and Jeanie in 1884 organised a large charity event with Mrs Gladstone called ‘The Bee’. She was looking for a new challenge in her life when her husband came home one day and announced that some friends had just walked from London to Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. Enamoured with this idea, she decided that the summer trip to Arran should be made that year on foot. Her husband quite reasonably objected on the grounds that his friends were just a couple, whereas she had six children, the youngest not even a year old; and of course Arran was considerably further than Dorset. Unperturbed she undertook the journey of 500 miles in about 7 weeks, with the poor nurse Ellen having to push the young child in a perambulator
Baby transport
Baby transport consists of devices for transporting and carrying infants. A "child carrier" or "baby carrier" is a device used to carry an infant or small child on the body of an adult...
. The story of the journey became her last book, being published in 1894 as ‘Adventures of a Perambulator’. By the 1890s Jeanie was socializing in the highest circles with Kings, Queens and Prime Ministers, and although she wrote plays; one of which was performed at the Strand theatre, she wrote no more fiction. In 1908 her husband had serious injuries when he was knocked over by a car; a lingering illness resulted in his death at Ormidale in 1910.
Later life
All Jeanie’s boys survived the war and she herself lived to the age of eighty-two when she died in London on October 11, 1928; her body being removed to Brodick on Arran, where she was buried in a small churchyard.Fiction
- Garry: a holiday story. : By Jeanie Hering. 1867. London
- "Little Pickles." A tale for children. : By Jeanie Hering. 1872. London
- Truth will out. A tale. 1873. London.
- Golden days. A tale of girls' school life in Germany. : By Jeanie Hering. 1873. London
- Through the mist. 1874. London 3 volumes.
- Honour and Glory, or hard to win. A book for boys. 1876. London
- The child's delight A picture book for little children : By Jeanie Hering 1878. London
- The town mouse : By Jeanie Hering . 1880. London
- A banished monarch, and other stories. By Jeanie Hering. 1880. London, Paris and New York.
- "Wee Lammie" [1880]. London
- "Minnie's Dolls," [1880]. London
- "A Rough Diamond." A Christmas story. [1880]. London
- "Honour is my Guide,". 1886. London.
- Elf. A Tale. 1887. London.
- Put to the Test. A Tale. 1888. London.
- The Child's Delight. [1890]. London.
- Rosebud. 1891. London.
Non Fiction
- The dog picture book. 1880. London
- Pet Dogs. [1890].
- Doggie's Own Book. [1890]. London.
- Adventures of a perambulator. True details of a family history. 1894. London.