Lillian Spender | |
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| Born | Lillian Headland 22 February 1835 London, England |
| Died | 4 May 1895 (aged 60) Bath, England |
| Occupation | novelist |
| Nationality | English |
| Education | Queen's College, London |
| Spouse | John Kent Spender (1858–1882) |
| Children | J. A. Spender (1862–1942) Harold Spender (1864–1926) Hugh Frederick Spender (1873–1930) 1 other son |
| Relatives | Stephen Spender (grandson) |
Lillian Spender (usually known as Mrs. John Kent Spender; 22 February 1835 – 4 May 1895) was an English writer. She contributed to major English reviews and turned later to novel-writing.
Lillian (known informally as Lily) Headland was born on 22 February 1835 as the daughter of Edward Headland, a well-known physician of Portland Place, London. Her mother was the daughter of Ferdinand de Medina, a Spaniard. Spender was educated at Queen's College, Harley Street.[1]
In 1858, she married John Kent Spender, physician to the Mineral Water Hospital, Bath.[1]
After her marriage, Spender turned her attention to literature. She contributed to the London Quarterly Review, the English Woman's Journal, the Dublin University Review, the British Quarterly Review, and a magazine called Meliora, but after 1869, she mainly wrote novels. She was active in education and social work in Bath until her health failed.[1]
Lillian Spender died at Bath on 4 May 1895. Seven of Spender's eight children survived her. Two of her sons, J. A. Spender and Harold Spender, became London journalists.[1]
