Educated at the Manchester Free Grammar School, Ainsworth began writing plays at the age of 15. His first publication, The Rivals, a tragic-comedy play, appeared in 1821. In 1822, he began studying law and moved to London in 1824 to continue his studies. He was qualified as a solicitor in 1826. By 1830, he was a regular contributor to Fraser's Magazine. During the 1840's, Ainsworth published numerous works of historical fiction which included Guy Fawkes (1841), Windsor Castle (1843) and James the Second (1848). Ainsworth also serialized accounts of many of the criminals in the history of Newgate prison. He was awarded a state pension by Lord Palmerston in 1856. He retired to Tunbridge Wells in 1867, but continued to write. He served as editor for a number of magazines including Ainsworth's and the New Monthly. Among his many works, mostly in the Gothic tradition, were Auriol (1844), The Lancashire Witches (1849), The Star-Chamber (1854), Mervyn Clitheroe (1858), The Constable of the Tower (1861), Myddleton Pomfret (1868), Boscobel (1872), The Goldsmith's Wife 1875) and Beau Nash (1879). |
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