Ralph Blackett (1831 – 29 December 1877) was an English poet, hymn (and later, dialect song) writer, and businessman, associated with

Tyneside Tyneside is a built-up area across the banks of the River Tyne in northern England. Residents of the area are commonly referred to as Geordies. The whole area is surrounded by the North East Green Belt. The population of Tyneside as published i ...

North East England North East England is one of nine official regions of England at the first level of ITL for statistical purposes. The region has three current administrative levels below the region level in the region; combined authority, unitary authorit ...

Life

Ralph Blackett was born in 1831. He worked for many years on the Quayside,

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

, as a well respected businessman. This position had been earned by his own endeavours, ability and hard work. He lost it, in misfortune and a downturn in trade. He was related to

George Charleton Barron George Charleton Barron (c. 1846–1891) of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, was a Gateshead-born actor, mimic, elocutionist and general entertainer. Early life George Charleton Barron was born in Gateshead about 1846. He started work as a clerk ...

, an actor, mimic and elocutionist. Like many of his contemporaries, he appears in ''Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside songs and readings with lives, portraits and autographs of the writers, and notes on the songs. Revised Edition''. Blackett was refined and well mannered. Well brought up, he was quiet and reserved, but at the same time could be genial and kind, particularly with friends. Later in life he moved to

Middlesbrough Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area. Until the early 1800s, the a ...

, where he died on 29 December 1877, aged 46.''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915''

Writing

In his youth, he had been a proficient and prolific Hymn writer, many were considered to be very beautiful. It is rumoured that one of these sacred works was published, but no trace appears to remain. As he grew older he also turned to songs and poetry, generally in a rich Geordie dialect. He became a regular contributor to ''Charter's Chronicle and Annual'' and he won a prize with his first dialectic song from the ''Newcastle Weekly Chronicle'' with "Jimmy's Deeth" which was later incorporated into the pantomime at Newcastle's

Tyne theatre Tyne may refer to: __NOTOC__ Geography *River Tyne, England *Port of Tyne, the commercial docks in and around the River Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England *River Tyne, Scotland *River Tyne, a tributary of the South Esk River, Tasmania, Australia People ...

. His works include: * "Fortnith's wages weekly" - about a rumour that wages will be paid weekly instead of fortnightly - first appeared in Keelmin's comic annewal, for 1871 (which supposedly "gi'es ye the best bits o' wit an' wisdim, be the clivvorest cheps aboot Tyneside") * "Jimmy’s deeth" – won a prize in the ''Newcastle Weekly Chronicle''

References

External links

FARNE Folk Archive Resource North East
1831 births 1877 deaths English male poets English male songwriters Geordie songwriters Businesspeople from Newcastle upon Tyne Writers from Newcastle upon Tyne 19th-century English musicians {{England-poet-stub

Life

Writing

See also

References

External links