Edward Austen Knight

Edward Austen Knight (born Edward Austen; 7 October 1767 – 19 November 1852) was the third eldest brother of Jane Austen, and provided her with the use of a cottage in Chawton where she lived for the last years of her life (now Jane Austen's House Museum). He was also High Sheriff of Kent in 1801. Family Edward was born in Deane, Hampshire, the third of eight children born to Rev. George Austen and Cassandra Leigh. He had five brothers: James (1765–1819), George (1766–1838), Henry Thomas (1771–1850), Francis William (Frank) (1774–1865), Charles John (1779–1852), and two sisters, Cassandra and Jane Austen. He married Elizabeth Bridges (1773–1808), daughter of Sir Brook Bridges, 3rd Baronet on 27 December 1791, and together they had eleven children: Fanny Catherine (1793–1882) (one of Jane Austen's favourite nieces) Edward (1794–1879) George Thomas (1795–1867) Henry (1796–1843) Reverend William (1798–1873) Elizabeth (1800–1884), who married Edward Royd Rice, had issue Fanny, Countess of Winchilsea Marianne (1801–1896) Charles (1803–1867) Louisa (1804–1889), second wife of Lord George Hill Cassandra Jane (1806–1842), first wife of Lord George Hill Brook John (1808–1878) Knight inheritance