At the age of 16, she became a teacher.
She married, in 1861, Daniel B. Charles, son of a businessman long established in Indianapolis.
At the age of 24, she was left a widow, in delicate health, with two young children dependent upon her.
 
In 1874, she began to write for a livelihood, doing reporting and editorial work for Indianapolis papers and correspondence for outside publications.
In 1876, she published her first volume of verse under the title Hawthorn Blossoms (Philadelphia).
This book was received well and proved a literary and financial success.
From 1876 to 1880, she continued to do newspaper work and biographical writing.
She was associate editor of Eminent Men of Indiana.
In 1881, she accepted a position as managing editor of the Washington World.
Afterwards, she established The National Veteran in Washington, D. C., of which she was sole proprietor and editor.

In 1883, because of overwork, she was confined to her bed for an entire year.
While recovering slowly, she spent the year in revising and preparing for publication her later poems.
The work appeared in Lyrical Poems, Songs, Pastorals, War Poems, and Madrigals (Philadelphia, 1886), a volume of 300 pages.
That volume fully established her reputation as a national poet.
She was a member of the executive committee of the National Woman's Press Association and chairman of the executive council of the Society of American Authors.
Charles wrote almost exclusively under the name of "Emily Thornton", though "Emily Hawthorne" was also used.

She appeared upon the lecture platform with success.
On the occasion of her departure from Indiana, when a complimentary farewell testimonial was tendered her by the leading citizens of Indianapolis, in 1880, she made a brilliant address.
In 1882, she addressed an audience of 1,500 ex-prisoners of war in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Her poetical address on "Woman's Sphere" was delivered before a National Woman's Suffrage Convention.
She was selected as one of the speakers at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.
She died in Washington City, where the latter part of her life was spent.
She died April 25, 1895 in Washington DC, and was buried in Rock Creek Cemetery.
At the age of 16, she became a teacher. She married, in 1861, Daniel B. Charles, son of a businessman long established in Indianapolis. At the age of 24, she was left a widow, in delicate health, with two young children dependent upon her.  
In 1874, she began to write for a livelihood, doing reporting and editorial work for Indianapolis papers and correspondence for outside publications. In 1876, she published her first volume of verse under the title Hawthorn Blossoms (Philadelphia). This book was received well and proved a literary and financial success. From 1876 to 1880, she continued to do newspaper work and biographical writing. She was associate editor of Eminent Men of Indiana. In 1881, she accepted a position as managing editor of the Washington World. Afterwards, she established The National Veteran in Washington, D. C., of which she was sole proprietor and editor.
In 1883, because of overwork, she was confined to her bed for an entire year. While recovering slowly, she spent the year in revising and preparing for publication her later poems. The work appeared in Lyrical Poems, Songs, Pastorals, War Poems, and Madrigals (Philadelphia, 1886), a volume of 300 pages. That volume fully established her reputation as a national poet. She was a member of the executive committee of the National Woman's Press Association and chairman of the executive council of the Society of American Authors. Charles wrote almost exclusively under the name of "Emily Thornton", though "Emily Hawthorne" was also used.
She appeared upon the lecture platform with success. On the occasion of her departure from Indiana, when a complimentary farewell testimonial was tendered her by the leading citizens of Indianapolis, in 1880, she made a brilliant address. In 1882, she addressed an audience of 1,500 ex-prisoners of war in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her poetical address on "Woman's Sphere" was delivered before a National Woman's Suffrage Convention. She was selected as one of the speakers at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. She died in Washington City, where the latter part of her life was spent. She died April 25, 1895 in Washington DC, and was buried in Rock Creek Cemetery.
Emily Thornton Charles