Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ponsonby, Emily Charlotte Mary
PONSONBY, Lady EMILY CHARLOTTE MARY (1817–1877), born on 17 Feb. 1817, was the third daughter of John William Ponsonby, fourth earl of Bessborough [q. v.], by his wife, Lady Maria Fane, daughter of John Fane, tenth earl of Westmorland [q. v.] Frederick George Brabazon Ponsonby, sixth earl of Bessborough [q. v.], was her brother. From 1848 till 1873 she wrote a number of novels, mostly published anonymously; they contain some careful and good writing. She died, unmarried, on 3 Feb. 1877.
Her books are: 1. ‘The Discipline of Life,’ 3 vols., 1848; 2nd edit., 1848. 2. ‘Pride and Irresolution,’ 3 vols., 1850 (a new series of the former book). 3. ‘Clare Abbey; or the Trials of Youth,’ 1851. 4. ‘Mary Gray, and other Tales and Verses,’ 1852. 5. ‘Edward Willoughby: a Tale,’ 1854. 6. ‘The Young Lord,’ 1856. 7. ‘Sunday Readings, consisting of eight Short Sermons, addressed to the Young,’ 1857. 8. ‘The two Brothers,’ 3 vols., 1858. 9. ‘A Mother's Trial,’ 1859. 10. ‘Kathlenne and her Sisters,’ 1861; 2nd edit., 1863. 11. ‘Mary Lyndsay,’ 3 vols., 1863; published in New York, 1863. 12. ‘Violet Osborne,’ 3 vols., 1865. 13. ‘Sir Owen Fairfax,’ 3 vols., 1866. 14. ‘A Story of Two Cousins,’ 1868. 15. ‘Nora,’ 3 vols., 1870. 16. ‘Oliver Beaumont and Lord Latimer,’ 3 vols., 1873.
[Allibone's Dict. English Lit. ii. 1620, Supplement, ii. 1243; O'Donoghue's Poets of Ireland, pt. iii. p. 206.]