Mrs Isabella Mary Beeton

1836–1865

Mrs Beeton; née Isabella Mary Mayson born in March 1836 and universally known by her married name of Mrs Beeton was the author of the 1861 volume, Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management THE classic Victorian cookbook. She is often regarded as the most famous of all British cookery writers.

Isabella was born at 24 Milk Street in Cheapside, London. Her father, Benjamin Mayson, died when she was young and her mother, Elizabeth Jerram later married Henry Dorling, who was a widower and had four children of his own. They lived in Epsom, Surrey where Henry was Clerk of Epsom Racecourse. Isabella herself was educated in Heidelberg in Germany for two years where she became, by all accounts, an accomplished pianist. Subsequently she returned to her stepfather's home in Epsom.

Her future husband, Samuel Orchard Beeton was also born in Milk Street, and despite Isabella's move to Epsom their respective mothers had remained in contact. On a subsequent visit to London, Isabella was introduced to her future husband, Samuel, who, by that time had become a publisher of books and popular magazines. They married on 10 July 1856 at Epsom Parish Church. In August of that year they moved into their first home, a large Italianate property at 2 Chandos Villas on the Woodridings Estate in Hatch End. Subsequently Isabella began to pen articles on cookery and household management for her husband's publications.

Isabella and Samuel's first child, Samuel Orchart, was born in May 1857 but died of croup in August of that year. In September 1859, their second son, also named Samuel Orchart, was born. Between 1859 and 1861, she wrote a monthly supplement to The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine and in October 1861, the supplements were published as a single volume: The Book of Household Management Comprising information for the Mistress, Housekeeper, Cook, Kitchen-Maid, Butler, Footman, Coachman, Valet, Upper and Under House-Maids, Lady’s-Maid, Maid-of-all-Work, Laundry-Maid, Nurse and Nurse-Maid, Monthly Wet and Sick Nurses, etc. etc.—also Sanitary, Medical, & Legal Memoranda: with a History of the Origin, Properties, and Uses of all Things Connected with Home Life and Comfort.

The family moved from heir house in Hatch End in the autumn of 1861. In December of the same year their son was taken ill with scarlet fever while on holiday in Brighton. He died on New Year's Eve. Mrs. Beeton gave birth to two other sons, Orchart (on New Year's Eve in 1863) and Mayson Moss (in January 1865). However, it was the day after the birth of her fourth child, in January 1865, Isabella contracted puerperal fever. She died a week later, aged 28. Her widower lived for another twelve years and died of tuberculosis in June 1877 at the age of 46.

Isabella's husband, himself ill, wrung with grief, and in financial trouble, had to sell the copyright in 1867. A second edition, with some input from Sam, was published in 1869. There have been a great many subsequent editions, departing more and more from the original.

Both husband and wife are buried at West Norwood Cemetery in south London under a simple, unadorned, headstone.

This is a continuation of the recipes for the Victorian cook, Mrs Isabella Beeton (the page in fact). If you would like to learn a little more about Mrs Beeton herself then please go to the first listing page for these Mrs Beeton recipes home page for the biography and information page. Here you will get just a list of the additional recipes from Mrs Beeton on this site.