This is Mrs. Elizabeth Hanbury, one of the very few people from the 18th century to have lived in three centuries. She was born Elizabeth Sanderson on the 9th of June, 1793 at Devonshire House, Leadenhall Street, London. At the time of Elizabeth’s birth, both of her parents were 44. Her parents were Quakers – John Sanderson (1749-1816) of Armthorpe, Yorkshire and Margaret Shillito (1748-1795) of Holborn, London.

.

They married in Devonshire Square, London on the 8th of February, 1786. Elizabeth was only 19 months old when her mother died on the 31st of January, 1795. A record of Elizabeth’s birth was made at the parish of All Hallows-on-the-Wall.

She was well-known in her own right, other than being a notable centenarian. Elizabeth married Cornelius Hanbury (1796-1869) in Bristol, Gloucestershire on the 21st of November, 1826. In the following years, they had three children, one son Cornelius, and two daughters; Charlotte and Elizabeth, who were all born on Gracechurch Street, London.

.

Throughout Elizabeth’s long life, she witnessed so much English history. She was already 45-years old when Queen Victoria’s coronation took place in 1838. Elizabeth, having been the eldest subject of the Queen, died in Richmond on the 31st of October, 1901, at the age of 108. She was almost 26-years older than the Queen and she witnessed the Queen’s entire 63-year reign, and outlived her by 9 months. At the time of Elizabeth’s death, she was the oldest person in the United Kingdom, and one of the last surviving people from 18th century England.