Jane Porter was an English historical novelist, dramatist and literary figure, and one of the most popular writers of her time. Her bestselling novels, *Thaddeus of Warsaw* (1803) and *The Scottish Chiefs* (1810) are seen as among the earliest historical novels in a modern style and among the first to become bestsellers. They were abridged and remained popular among children well into the twentieth century. In her later years, Porter continued to write pieces for journals. Many appeared anonymously or were simply signed "J. P." Her wide-ranging topics included Peter the Great, Simón Bolívar, and the African explorer Dixon Denham. Source: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Porter)