Constance Amelia Monica Doyle
From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia
Constance Amelia Monica Doyle aka Connie (4 march 1868 - 8 june 1924) was the 6th child of Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Josephine Foley, and the 5th sister of Arthur Conan Doyle.
Her middle name is Amelia on her birth certificate (1868) and Aimée on her marriage certificate (1893).
She married Ernest W. Hornung in 1893, and had a son, Arthur Oscar Hornung in 1895.
Photos
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From left to right: Emily (Nem) Hawkins, Connie and Josephine Hare (Joey) and Arthur Conan Doyle on holiday in Norway (summer 1892). -
Family photo. Connie is standing 2nd from left, with her husband Ernest W. Hornung on her left (1904). -
Mrs. E. W. Hornung, wife of the creator of "Raffles"
(The Sketch, 26 january 1910, p.10)
Arthur Conan Doyle about Connie
In his autobiography Memories and Adventures (1923), Arthur Conan Doyle mentioned his sister :
- « My noble sister Annette, [...] went out at a very early age as a governess to Portugal and sent all her salary home. My younger sisters, Lottie and Connie, both did the same thing; and I helped as I could. »
- « Annette, the eldest sister, had already gone out to Portugal to earn and send home a fair salary, while Lottie and Connie were about to do the same. »
- « Connie, the younger sister, had come back from Portugal earlier, and had joined us at Norwood, where she had met and eventually married E. W. Hornung the novelist. »
The press about Connie
The press depicted Constance as follows :
- « Miss Doyle, who is a very sweet-mannered, vivacious young lady is exceedingly popular in Norwood. » (The Evening News (Portsmouth), 16 august 1893, p. 2)
- « Miss Constance Doyle, Dr. Conan Doyle's pretty young sister, is to be married to Mr. E. W. Hornung, author of the "Bride from the Bush" and other Australian tales. » (The Yorkshire Evening Post, 16 august 1893, p. 4)
- « Miss Doyle is pretty, and Mr. Hornung good-looking. » (The Shields Daily Gazette and Shipping Telegraph, 21 august 1893, p. 2)
Chronology
1868
- 4 march : Birth at 3 Sciennes Hill Place, Edinburgh.
1877
- August : She spent a holiday on the Isle of Arran with her brother Arthur and her sister Lottie and their father Charles.
1881
- April : She was living at 23 George Square, Edinburgh, with her mother Mary, her brothers Arthur and Innes and her sisters Jane and Bryan Mary
1883
- Late year : She moved to Masongill, North Yorkshire, with her mother and sisters.
1885
1891
- Connie and Lottie were governess in Portugal.
1892
- She returned to England.
- Summer : Connie, Arthur, Nem, Josephine Hoare and Jerome K. Jerome visited Norway.
1893
- 27 september : She married Ernest W. Hornung at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Edwards, Place Street, London. Mr. Gilbert Parker, a writer, was best man. Mr. Jerome K. Jerome and Mrs. Louise Chandler Moulton were among the friends at the church.
1895
- 24 march : Birth of her son Arthur Oscar Hornung.
1898
- April : Connie and her husband were based in Rome, Italy.
- 23 december : She was disguised as Charlotte Corday at the fancy dress ball held by her brother Arthur Conan Doyle at The Hindhead Beacon Hotel.
1901
- 31 march : Connie, her husband and her son were living at 9 Pitt Street, Kensington, London.
1903
- 26 november : Connie and her husband were present at the marriage of Israel Zangwill and Miss Edith Ayrton in West End, London.
1907
- July : Connie and family were living at 7 Hornton Street, Kensington, London.
- 8 july : They celebrated there the 70th birthday of her mother with her brothers, sisters, nephews and relatives.
- December : Connie and family were living at West Grinstead Park, Sussex.
1908
- 28 november : Connie and her husband were present at the marriage of Mr. John Collings Squire and Miss Eileen H. Anstruther Wilkinson in Hintlesham.
1918
- 3 january : She was present at Francis Kingsley Doyle (son of Innes and Clara) baptism at St. John's Church, Eastbourne.
1921
- 22 march : Death of her husband Ernest W. Hornung, aged 54, in France.
1924
- 8 june : She died, aged 56, in Beckenham, Kent.
Performers
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Hilary Maclean in TV mini-series Arthur & George (2015).
