Alaric Alexander Watts
Encyclopedia
Alaric Alexander Watts British
poet
and journalist
, born in London
. His life was dedicated to newspaper creation and edition and was seen as a conservative writer. Such a life led him to bankruptcy until a pension was awarded to him by a friend, Lord Aberdeen
.
.
In 1822, leaving his position at the Gazette, he was made editor of the Leeds Intelligencer
(1822-23), in the columns of which he was one of the first to advocate measures for protecting workers in factories against accidents from machinery (see occupational safety
). In 1823 he published his first volume of verse, Poetical Sketches, and in 1824 he became the editor of the Literary Souvenir (till 1838), of which he also became the proprietor two years later. During his ownership he secured the co-operation of some of the most famous men of letters of that period. In 1825 he went to Manchester
as editor
of the Manchester Courier, a position which he resigned a year later.
In 1827 he assisted in founding the Standard as a sub-editor, while the first editor was Stanley Lees Giffard
; and in 1833 he started the United Service Gazette, which he edited for 8 years. In 1839 he helped Lady Bulwer with a manuscript of Cheveley and during that time he offered her to stay some time at his cottage. During the same year he returned to the Standard as an editor and took a job at the Morning Herald where he worked until 1846.
Watts was also interested in a number of provincial Conservative newspapers which were not financially successful, so by 1848, he was sentenced for some time in debtors' prison before declaring bankruptcy in 1850. In 1854, Lord Aberdeen
came to his rescue by awarding Watts a civil service pension. In 1856 he was back to edition to publish the first edition of Men of the Time. Watts died in London on the 5 April 1864. His poems were collected as Lyrics of the Heart and published in 1850. In 1867 a collection of his poems was published in a volume entitled The Laurel and the Lyre.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His life was dedicated to newspaper creation and edition and was seen as a conservative writer. Such a life led him to bankruptcy until a pension was awarded to him by a friend, Lord Aberdeen
George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen
George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen KG, KT, FRS, PC , styled Lord Haddo from 1791 to 1801, was a Scottish politician, successively a Tory, Conservative and Peelite, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1852 until 1855.-Early life:Born in Edinburgh on 28 January 1784, he...
.
Life as a journalist
Alaric Watts was the son of John Mosley Watts and grandson of William Watts, a Leicester physician of repute. After leaving school he made his living as a teacher for a short time, and in 1818-19 was part of the staff of the New Monthly Magazine in London. At about the same time he became a contributor to the Literary GazetteLiterary Gazette
The Literary Gazette was a British literary magazine, established in London in 1817 with its full title being The Literary Gazette, and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences. Sometimes it appeared with the caption title, "London Literary Gazette". It was founded by the publisher Henry Colburn,...
.
In 1822, leaving his position at the Gazette, he was made editor of the Leeds Intelligencer
Leeds Intelligencer
The Leeds Intelligencer or Leedes Intelligencer was a newspaper in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, founded in 1754. It was a weekly paper until it was renamed and became the daily Yorkshire Post, first published on Monday 2 July 1866....
(1822-23), in the columns of which he was one of the first to advocate measures for protecting workers in factories against accidents from machinery (see occupational safety
Occupational safety and health
Occupational safety and health is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. The goal of all occupational safety and health programs is to foster a safe work environment...
). In 1823 he published his first volume of verse, Poetical Sketches, and in 1824 he became the editor of the Literary Souvenir (till 1838), of which he also became the proprietor two years later. During his ownership he secured the co-operation of some of the most famous men of letters of that period. In 1825 he went to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
as editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the Manchester Courier, a position which he resigned a year later.
In 1827 he assisted in founding the Standard as a sub-editor, while the first editor was Stanley Lees Giffard
Stanley Lees Giffard
Stanley Lees Giffard was founder and first editor of a London newspaper, The Standard.Stanley Lees Giffard was brought up in Ireland, the son of John Giffard and Sarah Morton of Dromartin Castle...
; and in 1833 he started the United Service Gazette, which he edited for 8 years. In 1839 he helped Lady Bulwer with a manuscript of Cheveley and during that time he offered her to stay some time at his cottage. During the same year he returned to the Standard as an editor and took a job at the Morning Herald where he worked until 1846.
Later life
Mr. Watts met and married his wife Priscilla Zillah Maden Watts (born Wiffen) in the early 1820s with whom he had a child named Alaric Alfred Watts (1825-1901). Mrs. Watts also published and wrote for newspapers and magazines like The New Year's Gift and Juvenile Souvenir (1829-36) until she died in 1873, nine years after her husband.Watts was also interested in a number of provincial Conservative newspapers which were not financially successful, so by 1848, he was sentenced for some time in debtors' prison before declaring bankruptcy in 1850. In 1854, Lord Aberdeen
George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen
George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen KG, KT, FRS, PC , styled Lord Haddo from 1791 to 1801, was a Scottish politician, successively a Tory, Conservative and Peelite, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1852 until 1855.-Early life:Born in Edinburgh on 28 January 1784, he...
came to his rescue by awarding Watts a civil service pension. In 1856 he was back to edition to publish the first edition of Men of the Time. Watts died in London on the 5 April 1864. His poems were collected as Lyrics of the Heart and published in 1850. In 1867 a collection of his poems was published in a volume entitled The Laurel and the Lyre.