author
Margaret Ellen James
A Welsh writer and historian best known for bringing the 1797 French landing at Fishguard to life, she turned a dramatic local episode into a vivid historical narrative. Her work remains remembered through reprints and public-domain editions of her account of the invasion.
1 Audiobook
The Fishguard Invasion by the French in 1797
by Margaret Ellen James
About the author
Margaret Ellen James was a Welsh author and historian, born in 1843, who is chiefly known for The Fishguard Invasion by the French in 1797. Her writing focused on a striking moment in Welsh history: the last invasion of mainland Britain, when French forces landed near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire.
Although detailed biographical information appears to be limited, records connected with her published work and library catalogs consistently identify her as both a writer and a historian. Her best-known book, first published in the late 19th century, has continued to circulate through library, bookselling, and public-domain archives, which suggests a lasting interest in her careful retelling of this unusual event.
For listeners drawn to local history, military episodes, or Welsh subjects, her work offers a grounded and engaging window into the past. Even with only one widely documented title, she stands out as a writer who helped preserve a memorable piece of Welsh history for later readers.