Beatrix Potter was born to a wealthy family in London and was raised by governesses instead of attending school with other children. She loved animals and had many pets, including rabbits. Beatrix spent many long holidays in the country and began to sketch and then watercolor animals, plants and landscapes. She studied art in the late 1870s at the National Art Training School and her first commercial success was selling art used in greeting cards. The Tale of Peter Rabbit began as a letter she wrote and illustrated to the children of one of her former governesses. Beatrix later transformed it into a book, which she published privately. The enchanting story was published in 1902 by Frederich Warne & Co. and readers everywhere were captivated by the tale of a mischievous bunny. Beatrix Potter went on to write more than twenty children's stories. She used the proceeds from her books to buy Hill Top Farm and other nearby land to preserve the unique hill country landscape. She died on December 22nd, 1943 at her home at age 77, leaving almost all her property to the National Trust. She is credited with preserving much of the land that now constitutes the Lake District National Park. Potter's books continue to sell throughout the world in many languages with her stories being retold in song, film, ballet, and animation, and her life depicted in a feature film and television film.