Frances Stackhouse Acton

Frances Stackhouse Acton (née Knight; 7 July 1794 – 24 January 1881) was a British botanist, archaeologist, writer and artist. Her father was noted botanist, Thomas Andrew Knight, who encouraged her education and included her in his experiments. She married an older land owner and, as they had no children, when he died she pursued her own interests, which included archaeology and architecture. She excavated a Roman villa, built a number of buildings and saved others in need of repair. She was keen on painting buildings and eventually went on to publish a charitable book, The Castles & Old Mansions of Shropshire.