Isabella Beeton

Isabella first met Samuel Orchart Beeton while on a visit to London. Samuel Beeton was a publisher of books and popular magazines. The two tied the knot on July 10, 1856 at St Martin's Parish Church, Epsom.

After marriage, the couple shifted base to Chandos Villas on the Woodridings Estate in Hatch End. They were blessed with four sons, of which the first two died at three months and three years respectively.

Orchart Beeton and Mayson Moss, their third and fourth sons, went on to have successful life. While Orchart served in the army, Mayson started off as a publisher and later became a journalist. He became the founder and president of Anglo Newfoundland Development Company, a paper mill that provided the paper to the Daily Mail even during the peak wartime.

Mrs Beeton was born as Isabella Mary Mayson on March 12, 1836, in Cheapside, London to Benjamin Mayson and Elizabeth Jerram.

When Isabella was extremely young, her father died. As such, her mother remarried a widower, Henry Dorling, who had four children from his previous marriage. The family lived in Epsom, Surrey.

Young Isabella was well educated for the women of her times. In 1851, she was sent to Heidelberg, Germany to study music and languages. While in Germany, she mastered playing the piano. She returned to Epsom after two years.

Upon returning home from Germany, Isabella, the eldest of the 20 siblings, took over the responsibility of babysitting and general management of her house. During this time she developed a knack for household management that gave her the required experience and expertise.

Following her marriage to publisher Samuel Orchart Beeton, sabelle commenced her career as a writer and author. In the initial days, she started off by contributing articles on cookery and household tips, guides and management in her husband’s publications.

In 1859, she commenced writing a monthly supplement to ‘The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine’. She penned articles on useful household tips, cookery items, childcare instructions and so on.

Following the success of ‘The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine’, Samuel started an only-for-men magazine, ‘The Boy’s Own Magazine’. With assistance from Isabella, he soon expanded his publishing business, printing Christmas annuals, dictionaries and guides.

Amalgamating the supplements for ‘The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine’, she came up with a full-fledged book, ‘Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management’. The book adhered to the needs of the rapidly expanding middle class families of the Victorian era by aiding them with much-needed household tips.

‘Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management’ catered to a wide range of subjects and had important tips for all including Mistress, Cook, Kitchen-maid, Butler, Footman, Coachman, Valet, Upper and Under-Housemaids, Lady's-Maid, Maid-of-all-work, Laundry Maid, Nurse and Nurse-maid, Monthly Wet and Sick Nurses. Furthermore, it contained information on topics such as Sanitary, Medical, & Legal Memoranda as well.

She is known for her book, ‘Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management’. The nook catered to a wide range of subjects and had important tips for all including Mistresses, Cooks, Kitchen-maids, Butlesr, Footmen, Coachmen, Valets, Upper and Under-Housemaids, Lady's-Maid, Maid-of-all-work, Laundry Maid, Nurse and Nurse-maid, Monthly Wet and Sick Nurses. Furthermore, it contained information on topics such as Sanitary, Medical, & Legal Memoranda as well.