Background
Diana Monsell was born, most probably in County Londonderry, in 1813. She was the eldest daughter of the four children of the Archdeacon of Derry, Thomas Bewley Monsell, and Jane Rae.
Diana Monsell was born, most probably in County Londonderry, in 1813. She was the eldest daughter of the four children of the Archdeacon of Derry, Thomas Bewley Monsell, and Jane Rae.
Her brother was the clergyman and hymn-writer, John Samuel Bewley Monsell. Initially a barrister, Conyngham Ellis left the profession to become a vicar, serving in Cranbourne, Windsor, Berkshire. Ellis died aged 37 or 38, on 4 May 1851.
The book by Ellis as Mrs Conyngham Ellis, Conversations on human nature for the young, appears to have been printed posthumously.
A watercolour portrait of Ellis by Frederick William Burton is in the collections of the National Gallery of Ireland.