Richard Howitt (1799–1869) was a British poet.

Life

Howitt was born in

Heanor Heanor (/ˈhiːnə/) is a town in the Amber Valley district of Derbyshire in the East Midlands of England. It lies north-east of Derby and forms, with the adjacent village of Loscoe, the civil parish and town council-administered area of Heano ...

in Derbyshire in 1799, was the son of Thomas Howitt and Phoebe Tantum.

William Howitt William Howitt (18 December 1792 – 3 March 1879), was a prolific English writer on history and other subjects. Howitt Primary Community School in Heanor, Derbyshire, is named after him and his wife. Biography Howitt was born at Heanor, Derbysh ...

, the writer, was his elder brother and

Mary Howitt Mary Howitt (12 March 1799-30 January 1888) was an English poet, the author of the famous poem '' The Spider and the Fly''. She translated several tales by Hans Christian Andersen. Some of her works were written in conjunction with her husband, ...

was William's wife. His younger brother was

Godfrey Howitt Godfrey Howitt (8 October 1800 – 4 December 1873), entomologist, was born in Heanor in Derbyshire to Thomas Howitt. Thomas had farmed a few acres of land at Heanor and joined the Society of Friends on his marriage with Phoebe Tantum, a member ...

. He spent his earlier years as a

pharmacist A pharmacist, also known as a chemist (Commonwealth English) or a druggist (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), is a healthcare professional who prepares, controls and distributes medicines and provides advice and instructi ...

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...

, at first in partnership with his brother William, but finally on his own account. He was an ardent lover of literature, and published in 1830 a volume of poems entitled ''Antediluvian Sketches.'' This was highly praised and was followed in 1840 by the ''Gipsy King and other poems''. Many of Howitt's poems appeared first in

Tait's Magazine ''Tait's Edinburgh Magazine'' was a monthly periodical founded in 1832. It was an important venue for liberal political views, as well as contemporary cultural and literary developments, in early-to-mid-nineteenth century Britain. The magazine wa ...

and William Dearden's ''

Miscellany A miscellany is a collection of various pieces of writing by different authors. Meaning a mixture, medley, or assortment, a miscellany can include pieces on many subjects and in a variety of different forms. In contrast to anthologies, whose aim ...

''.

Australia

Towards the end of 1839, Richard, in company with his brother, Dr.

, emigrated to Australia arriving in

Port Phillip Port Phillip (Kulin languages, Kulin: ''Narm-Narm'') or Port Phillip Bay is a horsehead-shaped bay#Types, enclosed bay on the central coast of southern Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The bay opens into the Bass Strait via a short, ...

in 1840. He farmed on the Heidelberg Road until his return to England in 1844 and published his experiences in ' ''Impressions of Australia Felix during Four Years' Residence in that Colony, Notes of a Voyage round the World, Australian Poems/ &c.'', 1845. This miscellany of prose and verse was described by

Leigh Hunt James Henry Leigh Hunt (19 October 178428 August 1859), best known as Leigh Hunt, was an English critic, essayist and poet. Hunt co-founded '' The Examiner'', a leading intellectual journal expounding radical principles. He was the centr ...

as 'full of genuine pictures of nature, animate and inanimate.' After a stay in Nottingham Howitt retired to

Edingley Edingley is a village in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 390, increasing to 443 at the 2011 Census. It is located 3 miles north-west of Southwell. The name Eding ...

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated Notts.) is a landlocked county in the East Midlands region of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The traditi ...

, and published in 1868 a last volume of verse, ''Wasp's Honey, or Poetic Gold and Gems of Poetic Thought.'' He died at

on 5 February 1869, and was buried in the Friends' cemetery at

Mansfield Mansfield is a market town and the administrative centre of Mansfield District in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest town in the wider Mansfield Urban Area (followed by Sutton-in-Ashfield). It gained the Royal Charter of a market tow ...

. Christopher North says of him, in the 'Noctes Ambrosianae/ '' Richard has true poetic feeling, and no small poetic power.'' One of Richard poems, "Thou art Lovelier", was set to music in 1870 by William Legge.Thou Art Lovelier at Music Australia
Retrieved 3 October 2007.

Life

Australia

References

Further reading