Murray, Anna Maria (1808–1899)

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Murray, Anna Maria (1808–1899)

Irish-Australian novelist. Name variations: Anna Maria Bunn. Born Anna Maria Murray, 1808, in Balliston, Co. Limerick, Ireland; died 1899; 2nd child of Catholic parents Terence Murray (army paymaster) and Ellen Fitzgerald Murray (died young); sister of Terence Murray (politician); m. Captain George Bunn (shipowner and whaler), 1829 (died 1840); children: 2.

With father and brother, moved to Australia (1827) and remained there until death; after father died (1835), began to write; published anonymously The Guardian: A Tale by an Australian (1838), the 1st novel published by a woman in Australia; kept her secret until just before she died at 81, confessing to her only living son William.

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