The Loves of Jane Austen

You might say Jane Austen was a master at crafting happy endings. From Pride and Prejudice to Sense and Sensibility (and, of course, Emma), the characters of Jane Austen rarely lacked for love. Jane Austen did have several suitors, but none resulted in marriage for the writer.

Thomas Langlois Lefroy
At 20 years old, Jane experienced her first (and some argue, only) true love. Thomas Langlois Lefroy was a law student from Ireland, and over the course of several weeks during the Christmas holidays, Jane and Tom spent a good deal of time together. From the remaining letters that exist between Jane and her
sister, it is clear that the two were enamored with each other.

The oldest son in a family with 11 children, Tom was expected to marry well to ensure the success of his family, who found the country parson’s daughter an unacceptable match for him. Having been sent to school on the dime of his wealthy uncle, he was expected to return the investment by financially supporting his mother and five older sisters. At the wishes of his benefactor and family, Tom was whisked away to school (and away from Jane). He later moved to London where he married a wealthy heiress, became Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and named his eldest daughter Jane.

Reverend Samuel Blackall
Reverend Samuel Blackall, a set-up by Jane’s friend Anne Lefroy (Tom’s aunt), was brought about to ease the heartbreak that came from Jane’s relationship with Lefroy. According to her correspondence with her sister, Jane never warmed to Blackall, saying the relationship “will go on exceedingly well and decline away in a very reasonable manner.”

Harris Bigg-Wither
Finally, there was Harris Bigg-Wither, who proposed to Jane in 1802. Jane accepted his proposal (the only one she is ever known to have received). It seemed a good decision: Jane had known him since they were both young, and Harris owned property, had solid connections and her marriage to him would provide many practical advantages to the entire Austen family. He also was considered rather unattractive, reclusive and tactless. Her engagement lasted only for the evening; after a night of consideration and advice from her sister, she changed her mind.

Jane Austen lived until the age of 41, never having experienced the happy ending for which she became so well known.