Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sale-Barker, Lucy Elizabeth Drummond Davies
SALE-BARKER, LUCY ELIZABETH DRUMMOND DAVIES (1841–1892), writer for the young, born in 1841, was the third and youngest daughter of Francis Henry Davies (1791–1863), registrar of the court of chancery, and of his wife, Lady Lucy Clementina (d. 1879), only sister of George Drummond, fourteenth earl of Perth and sixth duke of Melfort. She was twice married: first, on 25 Aug. 1858, to Lieutenant-colonel James John Villiers, who died in command of the 74th highlanders at Belasse, India, on 10 May 1862, aged 38 (Gent. Mag. 1862, ii. 233); and, secondly, on 10 Aug. 1865, to John Sale-Barkerof Cadogan Place, Chelsea, who died, 6 Oct. 1884. Mrs. Sale-Barker died on 6 May 1892.
Mrs. Sale-Barker began her literary career with occasional articles for the magazines,and about 1872 began to write regularly for children. Between 1874 and 1888 she published more than forty volumes for juvenile readers. Many of the stories she had composed for her own children. Some of her publications bore such titles as 'Little Bright Eyes' Picture Book' and 'Little Golden Locks' Story Book.' She edited 'Little Wide-Awake,' a magazine for children,from its commencement in 1874 until her death, and wrote the verses for Kate Greenaway's popular 'Birthday Book for Children' (1880).
[Times, 9 May 1892; Burke's Peerage, s.v. Perth; Allibone's Dict. s.v. 'Barker,' Suppl. i. 93; Brit. Mus. Cat.]