She was born in County Cork, Ireland. As a child she enjoyed making up stories, and won prizes for her writing at school. She was educated at Portarlington College.Her books were first published anonymously, and later as by "Mrs. Hungerford". In the United States, her books were mostly published under the pen name "The Duchess". Some of her early books were published by William Tinsley, a major publisher at the time.She died at Bandon of typhoid fever.
