1793 - 1882

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Fanny was born in 1793 when Jane was 17 and was the eldest daughter of Jane's brother Edward (hence the surname Knight). She is often debated about as to whether she really was a loving niece to Jane after some harsh words in a letter long after Jane's death.

Sadly, Fanny's mother, Elizabeth, died when she was just 16, which meant she was now the principal female of the house. Jane's sister Cassandra went to stay with the family to provide help, and Jane wrote to her on the subject encouraging Fanny to embrace her new role in the family:

 

"Dearest Fanny must now look upon her-self as his prime source of comfort, his dearest friend; as the being who is gradually to supply to him, to the extent that is possible, what he has lost."

 

After her mother's death, Edward purchased the Chawton estate where he offered the cottage to his mother and sisters. This meant that Jane and Fanny were able to see each other often.

It is clear that Fanny meant a lot to Jane as she dedicated several pieces of her juvenilia to her, and named the protagonist of Mansfield Park Fanny as well (although this may just be coincidence, Fanny was a popular name of the time). She referred to Fanny as "almost another sister".

Jane and Fanny would write to each other and several letters survive today. It would seem that Fanny looked to her aunt for advice, especially in relation to love and courtship. In 1814, Jane wrote to Fanny offering advice about a Mr A:

"Your mistake has been one that thousands of women fall into. He was the first young man who attached himself to you. That was the charm, and most powerful it is. Among the multititudes, however, that make the same mistake with yourself, there can be few indeed who have so little reason to regret it; his character and his attachment leave you with nothing to be ashamed of... You certainly have encouraged him to such a point as to make him feel almost secure of you - you have no inclination for any other person."

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Jane concluded her letter advising Fanny that "anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without affection". It seems that Fanny took her aunts advice as she ended up marrying Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Baronet, in 1820, three years after Jane's death instead. He was a widower many years older than herself with six children already! However, Lady Knatchbull, went on to have nine children herself and died aged 89 in 1882.

Fanny comes under criticism for her harsh (and quite snobby) comments in a letter to her sister Marianne following Jane's death.

"She was not so refined as she ought to have been from her talent ... They were not rich & the people around with whom they chiefly mixed, were not all high bred, or in short anything more than mediocre & they of course tho' superior in metal powers and cultivation were on the same level as far as refinement goes... Aunt Jane was too clever not to put aside all possible signs of "common-ness" (if such an expression is allowable) & teach herself to be more refined... Both the Aunts were brought up in the most complete ignorance of the World & its ways (I mean as to fashion &c) & if it had not been for Papa's marriage which brought them into Kent... they would have been, tho' not less clever & agreeable in themselves, very much below par as to good Society & its ways."

 

It's not clear exactly why Fanny wrote such scathing comments of her beloved aunts; whether they were just those of someone who had been used to a higher life and reflected down on her poor relations. It is worth noting however, that these comments were written in 1869, 50 years after Jane's death, when Fanny was an old woman; the same year that her cousin's memoir of Jane was published.

Perhaps she was jealous that Jane received more recognition than she herself did as a Lady? However, it has been noted that perhaps it is the Victorian sensibilities of the time that led her to make such comments, as opposed to the freer Regency period. Family accounts of her explained that she wasn't always the best at expressing herself eloquently either.

However, we shouldn't curse Fanny too much, for without her we would not have ever seen any of Jane's surviving letters, which were published by her grandson Baron Brabourne. Without which we would not know quite so much about Jane Austen today.