Persistence - Continuing in a course of action despite difficulty or opposition, refusing to give up.

Beatrix Potter’s birthday is on July 28th.

Celebrated author, illustrator, and conservationist Beatrix Potter (1866-1943), creator of the beloved “Peter Rabbit” tales, was born to a wealthy London family but spent summers and holidays in the countryside, in Scotland and England’s Lake District. Educated at home and surrounded by a large extended family but few friends, she and her brother, Bertram, developed an early love of nature and kept many pets, which they observed closely. Beatrix’s artistic ability was recognized early and encouraged with private lessons; she developed a unique style that favored watercolors. While still in her twenties, she became known for detailed scientific illustrations.

The first “Peter Rabbit” book was published in 1902 to great success, and subsequent books were just as successful. The books gave rise to a love story as well; in 1905, she became engaged to her editor, Norman Warne, despite the disapproval of her parents. However, Norman died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed illness before they could be married. Beatrix was devastated, but she persisted in her dreams, and consoled herself with writing and painting. With some of the money from her books and an inheritance from her aunt, she bought Hill Top Farm in Lancashire, in the English Lake District. Over the years she bought many additional farms in the area, with the goal of saving the unique English countryside from development so it could be enjoyed by future generations. When she died, she left most of her property to the National Trust, and it formed the basis for what became the Lake District National Park.

Mrs. Potter’s love of nature was expressed not only in her art, but in her other pursuits as well. Eight years after Norman’s death, she married a lawyer, William Heelis, who was from the Lake District and shared her love of the countryside. She was a prosperous farmer who was active in land preservation and management, and she raised prizewinning Herdwick sheep. Mrs. Potter died at age 77 at her home in the country, having spent a life expressing her love of nature in both her art and business pursuits, and preserving the natural beauty of England for those who came after her.