Elinor Darwin

Elinor Mary Darwin was an Irish born illustrator, engraver and portrait painter. Her illustrations were included in several of her husband, Bernard Darwin's books for children. Elinor Mary Monsell was born in Limerick, Munster, Ireland, the eldest daughter of William Thomas Monsell (1843–1887), a magistrate and inspector of facturers, and Elinor Vere, daughter of Hon. Robert O'Brien, of Old Church, Limerick (son of Sir Edward O'Brien, 4th Baronet). William Thomas Monsell's father, Rev. John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811–1875), vicar of Egham, Surrey, was first cousin to William Monsell, 1st Baron Emly; William Thomas served as Lord Emly's private secretary during his time as Postmaster General. At 17 years of age Elinor left Ireland for London. Her brother John Robert Monsell was a children's author and illustrator, who collaborated with Herbert Hughes on Rivals!, a 1935 musical version of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals. She married Bernard Darwin on Tuesday, 31 July 1906 at St Luke's Church, Chelsea in London, England.He was a golf writer and grandson of the British naturalist Charles Darwin. Their children were Ursula Darwin (1908–2011) and Sir Robert Vere Darwin (1910–1974).