The daughter of William Meteyard, a surgeon, and his wife Mary, daughter of Zebedee Beckham of Great Yarmouth, she was born on 21 June 1816, in Lime Street, Liverpool. In 1818 her father became surgeon to the Shropshire militia. She went to Shrewsbury, and in 1829 moved to Thorpe, near Norwich, where she remained till 1842, when she settled in London.
She was known for journalism, essays, novels and biographies, particularly as an authority on Wedgwood and its creator. She made a living writing for periodicals. She brought forward proposals for female education, and was active in the Whittington Club.
Meteyard died on 4 April 1879 at Stanley Terrace, Fentiman Road, South Lambeth.
Foreign a number of years she had enjoyed a civil list pension.
