Gilbert Abbott à Beckett
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (9 January 1811 – 30 August 1856) was an English
humorist.
He was born in London
, the son of a lawyer, and belonged to a family claiming descent from Thomas Becket
. He was educated at Westminster School
and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn
in 1841.
He edited the comic paper Figaro in London
and was one of the original staff of Punch and a contributor until his death. He was an active journalist on The Times
and The Morning Herald, contributed a series of light articles to The Illustrated London News, conducted in 1846 The Almanack of the Month and found time to produce some fifty or sixty plays, among them dramatized versions of Charles Dickens
's shorter stories, written in collaboration with Mark Lemon
. He is perhaps best known as the author of Comic History of England, Comic History of Rome, Comic Blackstone, etc. He wrote the book for two opera with music composed by his wife Mary Anne à Beckett
(née Glossop), Agnes Sorrel and Red Riding Hood.
As poor-law commissioner he presented a valuable report to the Home Secretary
regarding the Andover workhouse scandal, and in 1849 he became a metropolitan police magistrate. He died in Boulogne-sur-Mer
, France, of typhoid fever
and is buried at Highgate Cemetery
.
His elder brother, Sir William à Beckett
(1806–1869), became chief justice of Victoria, Australia
. He was the father of two other Victorian writers, Gilbert Arthur à Beckett
and Arthur William à Beckett
. His wife, Mrs. G. A. à Beckett (1817?–1863) was a composer.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
humorist.
He was 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...
, the son of a lawyer, and belonged to a family claiming descent from Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1841.
He edited the comic paper Figaro in London
Figaro in London
Figaro In London was an English comic paper of the early nineteenth century. It was founded as a weekly in 1831 and ran for almost eight years. It is chiefly remembered nowadays as a forerunner to Punch. Its original editor was Gilbert Abbott à Beckett and it was mostly written by him and by Henry...
and was one of the original staff of Punch and a contributor until his death. He was an active journalist on The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
and The Morning Herald, contributed a series of light articles to The Illustrated London News, conducted in 1846 The Almanack of the Month and found time to produce some fifty or sixty plays, among them dramatized versions of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
's shorter stories, written in collaboration with Mark Lemon
Mark Lemon
Mark Lemon was founding editor of both Punch and The Field.-Biography:Lemon was born in London on the 30 November 1809. He was the son of Martin Lemon, a hop merchant, and Alice Collis. His parents married on 26 December 1808 at St Mary, Marylebone, London...
. He is perhaps best known as the author of Comic History of England, Comic History of Rome, Comic Blackstone, etc. He wrote the book for two opera with music composed by his wife Mary Anne à Beckett
Mary Anne à Beckett
Mary Anne à Beckett was an English composer, primarily known for opera.-Biography:Mary Anne à Beckett was born in London, the eldest daughter of Joseph Glossop, and sang at private gatherings. She married Gilbert Abbott à Beckett, a writer and magistrate. She composed the opera Agnes Sorrel for...
(née Glossop), Agnes Sorrel and Red Riding Hood.
As poor-law commissioner he presented a valuable report to the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
regarding the Andover workhouse scandal, and in 1849 he became a metropolitan police magistrate. He died in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
, France, of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
and is buried at Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
.
His elder brother, Sir William à Beckett
William à Beckett
Sir William à Beckett was a British barrister and the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.-Background:Born in London, he was the eldest son of William à Beckett, also a solicitor...
(1806–1869), became chief justice of Victoria, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He was the father of two other Victorian writers, Gilbert Arthur à Beckett
Gilbert Arthur a Beckett
Gilbert Arthur à Beckett was an English writer.-Biography:Beckett was born at Hammersmith, United Kingdom, the eldest son of Gilbert Abbott à Beckett and the brother of Arthur William à Beckett...
and Arthur William à Beckett
Arthur William a Beckett
Arthur William à Beckett was an English journalist and man of letters.-Biography:He was a younger son of Gilbert Abbott à Beckett, brother of Gilbert Arthur à Beckett and educated at Felsted School...
. His wife, Mrs. G. A. à Beckett (1817?–1863) was a composer.