Joseph Hardman ( – 3 March 1870) was an English merchant and contributor to ''

Blackwood's Magazine ''Blackwood's Magazine'' was a British magazine and miscellany printed between 1817 and 1980. It was founded by the publisher William Blackwood and was originally called the ''Edinburgh Monthly Magazine''. The first number appeared in April 1817 ...

''.

Life

Hardman was born in Manchester, and was baptised in St Ann's Church on 23 July 1783. He became a merchant based in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, married Frances Anna Rougemont, and together they had a son Frederick Hardman (1814–1874). While living in

Highgate Highgate ( ) is a suburban area of north London at the northeastern corner of Hampstead Heath, north-northwest of Charing Cross. Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has two active conservation organisati ...

, Hardman became the neighbour and friend of

Samuel Taylor Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge (; 21 October 177225 July 1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poe ...

. In March 1828, Coleridge wrote to Hardman about a new magazine that they had been planning, which eventually became the short-lived ''London Review'' (1829) under editor

Joseph Blanco White Joseph Blanco White, born José María Blanco y Crespo (11 July 1775 – 20 May 1841), was an Anglo-Spanish political thinker, theologian, and poet. Life Blanco White was born in Seville, Spain. He had Irish ancestry and was the son of the mer ...

. He completed a number of translations for ''

''; they were, in his own words, "drawn chiefly from German and Danish sources and consisted of romantic and piquant tales, freely altered from the originals and adapted to British taste and feeling." These included "The Robber's Tower", based on

Heinrich Clauren Carl Gottlieb Samuel Heun (20 March 1771 – 2 August 1854), better known by his pen name Heinrich Clauren, was a German author. Biography Born on 20 March 1771 in Doberlug, Lower Lusatia. Heun went into the Prussian civil service, and wrote i ...

's "", which may have been a source of inspiration for

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

's "

The Fall of the House of Usher "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1839 in ''Burton's Gentleman's Magazine'', then included in the collection ''Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque'' in 1840. The short story ...

" (1840), and "The Headsman", based on Lauritz Kruse's "", which might have been read by

James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 – September 14, 1851) was an American writer of the first half of the 19th century, whose historical romances depicting colonist and Indigenous characters from the 17th to the 19th centuries brought h ...

before writing his novel '' The Headsman: The Abbaye des Vignerons'' (1833). He wrote to the editor to submit his work under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

"Amicus of Paris", though his works were generally published in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' without attribution. He also used this name in correspondence with other magazines, such as in letters written to '' The New Sporting Magazine'' in 1833. He died on 3 March 1870 while living at Tudor Place,

Richmond Green Richmond Green is a recreation area near the centre of Richmond, a town of about 20,000 inhabitants situated in south-west London. Owned by the Crown Estate, it is leased to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The Green, which has been ...

, and was buried at

St Mary's Church, Twickenham St Mary's Church, Twickenham, also known as St Mary the Virgin, Twickenham, is a Grade II* listed Church of England place of worship dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin. It is on Church Street, Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon T ...

Works

As translator

* "The Sphinx; An Extravaganza, Etched in the Manner of Callot" in ''

'' (October 1828) * "The Duellists; A Tale of the Thirty Years War" in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (November 1828) * "The Robber’s Tower; A True Adventure" in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (December 1828) based on a story by

* "Sketches of Italy and the Italians, with Remarks on Antiquities and Fine Art" in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (January–August 1829) * "The Modern Gyges; A Tale of Trials" in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (February 1829) * "Poetical and Devotional Superstitions of Italy" in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (July 1829) * "Colonna the Painter; A Tale of Italy and the Arts" in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (September 1829) * "Phenomena of the Great Earthquake in 1783 in Calabria and Sicily" in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (December 1829) * "The Headsman; A Tale of Doom" in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (February 1830) based on a story by Lauritz Kruse * "The Pirates of Segna; A Tale of Venice and the Adriatic" translated with Frederick Hardman in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (March–April 1844)

As editor

* "The Venta of Armentia; A Sketch of the Late Carlist War in Spain" translated by Frederick Hardman in ''

'' (January 1841) * "A Convent of Franciscans" translated by Frederick Hardman in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (September 1841) * "A Passage in the Life of a Maître-d'Armes" translated by Frederick Hardman in ''Blackwood's Magazine'' (November 1842 – June 1843)

Notes

References

{{Reflist English merchants 1783 births 1870 deaths