John Hamilton Reynolds
Encyclopedia
John Hamilton Reynolds (1794–1852) was an English poet, satirist, critic, and playwright. He was a close friend and correspondent of poet John Keats
whose letters to Reynolds constitute a significant body of Keats' poetic thought. Reynolds was also the brother in law of the writer and humorist Thomas Hood
who was married to his sister Jane.
and Charlotte Cox Reynolds. His mother was related to the Hamilton family, from which Reynolds received his middle name, which included the Gothic writer William Thomas Beckford
. Reynolds attended Shrewsbury School, then enrolled at St Paul's School in London when the family moved in 1806, completing formal education in 1810.
and also began writing poetry. He was encouraged in his literary interests by his friend John F M Dovaston
, a former student of Reynolds's father.
claimed to be a huge admirer of Reynolds's work, and the two met and socialised with other contributors to the London Magazine
.
supported his writing and introduced him to another young poet Hunt greatly admired, the then unknown John Keats. Keats and Reynolds became friends, encouraging and challenging each other in their quest for literary recognition.
. Together the two wrote several comic and satirical pieces, the most popular being Odes and Addresses to Great People in 1825.
Tragedy struck in 1835 when his ten-year-old daughter Lucy died. He was bankrupt in 1838 but continued earning a small income writing. In 1847 he moved to the Isle of Wight
as assistant clerk in a county court. Reynolds became depressed and started drinking heavily, although he was not without friends and admirers to the end. He died at Newport
.
John Keats
John Keats was an English Romantic poet. Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, he was one of the key figures in the second generation of the Romantic movement, despite the fact that his work had been in publication for only four years before his death.Although his poems were not...
whose letters to Reynolds constitute a significant body of Keats' poetic thought. Reynolds was also the brother in law of the writer and humorist Thomas Hood
Thomas Hood
Thomas Hood was a British humorist and poet. His son, Tom Hood, became a well known playwright and editor.-Early life:...
who was married to his sister Jane.
Early life
Reynolds was born in Shrewsbury to George Reynolds, teacher at Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and Charlotte Cox Reynolds. His mother was related to the Hamilton family, from which Reynolds received his middle name, which included the Gothic writer William Thomas Beckford
William Thomas Beckford
William Thomas Beckford , usually known as William Beckford, was an English novelist, a profligate and consummately knowledgeable art collector and patron of works of decorative art, a critic, travel writer and sometime politician, reputed to be the richest commoner in England...
. Reynolds attended Shrewsbury School, then enrolled at St Paul's School in London when the family moved in 1806, completing formal education in 1810.
Early career
He took a junior clerkship in an insurance office, the Amicable Society for Perpetual Assurance, working there at least until 1816. Meanwhile, he pursued his self-education by reading widely in classical and English literatureEnglish literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
and also began writing poetry. He was encouraged in his literary interests by his friend John F M Dovaston
John Freeman Milward Dovaston
John Freeman Milward Dovaston was a British poet and naturalist.Dovaston was born in West Felton in the Shrewsbury district in an estate called "The Nursery" that was started by his father John Dovaston . Dovaston Sr...
, a former student of Reynolds's father.
Literary works
Reynolds's first published poem, "Ode to Friendship" appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1812. He was a prolific journalist and reviewer, and published collections of poems and a diverse array of articles. He received favourable notice from a number of critics and poets, including Byron, whose work Reynolds had closely imitated. Later he published The Eden of Imagination, imitating Wordsworth, who had also encouraged him. Early in his poetic career, John ClareJohn Clare
John Clare was an English poet, born the son of a farm labourer who came to be known for his celebratory representations of the English countryside and his lamentation of its disruption. His poetry underwent a major re-evaluation in the late 20th century and he is often now considered to be among...
claimed to be a huge admirer of Reynolds's work, and the two met and socialised with other contributors to the London Magazine
London Magazine
The London Magazine is a historied publication of arts, literature and miscellaneous interests. Its history ranges nearly three centuries and several reincarnations, publishing the likes of William Wordsworth, William S...
.
John Keats
His friend Leigh HuntLeigh Hunt
James Henry Leigh Hunt , best known as Leigh Hunt, was an English critic, essayist, poet and writer.-Early life:Leigh Hunt was born at Southgate, London, where his parents had settled after leaving the USA...
supported his writing and introduced him to another young poet Hunt greatly admired, the then unknown John Keats. Keats and Reynolds became friends, encouraging and challenging each other in their quest for literary recognition.
Personal life
In 1822, he married Eliza Drewe, which led to a friendship and literary collaboration with her brother-in-law, Thomas HoodThomas Hood
Thomas Hood was a British humorist and poet. His son, Tom Hood, became a well known playwright and editor.-Early life:...
. Together the two wrote several comic and satirical pieces, the most popular being Odes and Addresses to Great People in 1825.
Tragedy struck in 1835 when his ten-year-old daughter Lucy died. He was bankrupt in 1838 but continued earning a small income writing. In 1847 he moved to the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
as assistant clerk in a county court. Reynolds became depressed and started drinking heavily, although he was not without friends and admirers to the end. He died at Newport
Newport, Isle of Wight
Newport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
.