Isabella Beeton, the author behind Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management, died on February 6, 1865, at the age of 28. Her death followed the birth of her fourth child and was due to puerperal fever, an infection that can occur after childbirth. This consensus is supported by historical summaries and contemporary histories of her life.
Key points about the circumstances
- She gave birth to her fourth child on January 29, 1865, and began feeling feverish the following day.
- The cause of death was puerperal fever, i.e., an infection after childbirth.
- Her husband, Samuel Orchart Beeton, faced financial and legal pressures during this period, but the death itself is attributed to the infectious complications shortly after delivery.
Notes on alternate theories
- Over time, various speculative theories have circulated in sensational or non-scholarly sources, including allegations about syphilis in her husband or other family tragedies. However, the medically supported cause remains puerperal fever following childbirth, and this is the accepted historical account by reputable sources.
If you’d like, I can summarize primary biographical details from reliable sources or provide a brief timeline of Beeton’s life and publications.
