The Biographical Dictionary of America/Dabney, Julia Parker

DABNEY, Julia Parker, author, was born in Fayal, Azores, Sept. 2, 1850; daughter of William H. and Marianne (Parker) Dabney; granddaughter of John Bass and Roxa (Lewis) Dabney and of Albert and Julia (Dabney) Parker, and a descendant from Robert and Elizabeth D'Aubigné, French Huguenots, who came to America early in the eighteenth century. Julia removed at an early age to Teneriffe, Canary Islands, where her father was U.S. consul, 1862-82. She was educated at home and studied art with several Spanish painters. In 1868 she studied in Boston under William M. Hunt and Helen M. Knowlton. In 1873 she removed to Boston, where she engaged in painting and later in sculpture. This was eventually laid aside in consequence of ill health. After some years of inactivity she gave her attention to literature, writing short stories and poems for the leading periodicals. Her published volumes include: Songs of Destiny (1898); and two novels: Little Daughter of the Sun (1896); and Poor Chola (1897), the subjects of both having been drawn from the picturesque island life.