b. 24 June 1821. d. 14 July 1869. Nationality: English.
Travel writer, poet, and translator. Née Austin. Mother of Janet Ann Ross. Born in
London. Childhood friend of John Stuart Mill. Lived in Bonn, Germany, with her family
from 1827-28 and gained fluency in German. Returned to England and studied Greek at
school. Married Sir Alexander Cornewall Duff Gordon on 16 May 1840. Closely connected
with major figures in literary circles including Charles Dickens, George Meredith,
William Makepeace Thackeray, and Caroline Norton. Moved to South Africa and Egypt
for her health (1851-69). Author of *Letters from the Cape* (1864), *Letters from
Egypt, 1863–1865* (1865), and *Last Letters from Egypt* (1875). Biographical information:
*ODNB*. (CC)