# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/O'Brien, Charlotte Grace

​O'BRIEN, CHARLOTTE GRACE (1845–1909), Irish author and social reformer, born on 23 Nov. 1845 at Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick, was younger daughter in a family of five sons and two daughters of William Smith O'Brien [q. v.], Irish nationalist, by his wife Lucy Caroline, eldest daughter of Joseph Gabbett, of High Park, co. Limerick. On her father's return in 1854 from the penal settlement in Tasmania, Grace rejoined him in Brussels, and stayed there until his removal to Cahirmoyle in 1856. On her mother's death in 1861 she removed with her father to Killiney, near Dublin, and was his constant companion till his death at Bangor in 1864. From 1864 she lived at Cahirmoyle with her brother Edward, tending his motherless children, until his remarriage in 1880. She then went to live at Foynes on the Shannon, and there devoted herself to literary pursuits. She had already published in 1878 (2 vols. Edinburgh) her first novel, 'Light and Shade,' a tale of the Fenian rising of 1869, the material for which had been gathered from Fenian leaders. 'A Tale of Venice,' a drama, and 'Lyrics' appeared in 1880.
From 1880-1 her interests and pen were absorbed in Irish political affairs, in which she shared her father's opinions. She contributed articles to the 'Nineteenth Century' on 'The Irish Poor Man' (December 1880) and 'Eighty Years' (March 1881). In the spring of 1881 the attitude of the liberal government towards Ireland led her to address many fiery letters to the 'Pall Mall Gazette,' then edited by Mr. John (afterwards Viscount) Morley. Another interest, however, soon absorbed her activities. The disastrous' harvest in Ireland in 1879, combined with Irish political turmoil, led to much emigration to America. At Queenstown, the port of embarkation, female emigrants suffered much from overcrowded lodgings and robbery (see article by Miss O'Brien in Pall Mall Gazette, 6 May 1881). Miss O'Brien not only induced the board of trade to exercise greater vigilance but also founded in 1881 a large boarding-house at Queenstown for the reception and protection of girls on the point of emigrating. In order to improve the steamship accommodation for female emigrants, and to study their prospects in America, Miss O'Brien made several steerage passages to America (see her privately printed letter on The separation of the sexes on emigrant vessels, addressed to Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, president of the board of trade, 1881). She also established in New York a similar institution to that in Queenstown for the protection of girls. Many experiences during this period found expression in her 'Lyrics' (Dublin, 1886), a small volume of poems, which gives simple pictures of the emigrants and contains some stirring nationalist ballads.
On her retirement from active public work in 1886 Miss O'Brien returned to Ardanoir, Foynes, on the bank of the Shannon, devoting her leisure to writing and to study of plant life; she contributed much on the flora of the Shannon district to the 'Irish Naturalist.' She had joined the Roman communion in 1887. She died on 3 June 1909 at Foynes, and was buried at Knockpatrick. 'Selections from her Writings and Correspondence' was published at Dublin in 1909. Her verses have dignity and grace; her polemical essays are vigorous and direct, and her essays on nature charm by their simple style.
[Charlotte Grace O'Brien, selections from her writings and correspondence, ed. by her nephew, Stephen Gwynn, M.P., 1909 (with memoir and portraits); The Times, 5 and 26 June, 1909. Miss O'Brien's works are to be distinguished from those written from 1855 onwards by Mrs. Charlotte O'Brien, which are wrongly attributed in the Brit. Mus. Cat. to Charlotte Grace O'Brien.]
W. B. O.