Richard Wright Procter (1816–1881) was an English barber, poet and author.

Life

The son of Thomas Procter, he was born of poor parents in Paradise Vale,

Salford Salford () is a city and the largest settlement in the City of Salford metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. In 2011, Salford had a population of 103,886. It is also the second and only other city in the metropolitan county afte ...

, Lancashire, on 19 December 1816. Apprenticed to a barber, in due course he set up in business for himself in Long Millgate,

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...

, where he also ran a

circulating library A circulating library (also known as lending libraries and rental libraries) lent books to subscribers, and was first and foremost a business venture. The intention was to profit from lending books to the public for a fee. Overview Circulating li ...

. He remained there for the rest of his life. Procter died at 133 Long-Millgate, Manchester, on 11 September 1881, and was buried at St. Luke's,

Cheetham Hill Cheetham is an inner-city area and electoral ward of Manchester, England, which in 2011 had a population of 22,562. It lies on the west bank of the River Irk, north of Manchester city centre, close to the boundary with Salford, bounded by Broug ...

. He had married, in 1840, Eliza Waddington, who predeceased him, and left five sons.

Works

When young Procter bought books, and sent poetical contributions to the local press. In 1842 he associated with Samuel Bamford, John Critchley Prince, John Bolton Rogerson, and other local poets in meetings held at an inn, afterwards known as the "Poet's Corner", and he contributed to a volume of verse ''Festive Wreath'' which resulted. He had some pieces in ''City Muse'' (1853), edited by William Reid of Manchester. He published also: *''Gems of Thought and Flowers of Fancy'', 1855; a volume of poetical selections, of which the first and last pieces are by himself. *''The Barber's Shop'', with illustrations by William Morton, 1856; sketches of the odd characters he met. A second edition incorporated lore relating to hairdressing and to notable barbers, published, with a memoir by William Edward Armytage Axon, 1883. *''Literary Reminiscences and Gleaning with Illustrations'', 1860; mainly on Lancashire poets. *''Our Turf, our Stage, and our Ring'', 1862; historical sketches of racing and sporting life in Manchester. *''Manchester in Holiday Dress'', 1866; on theatres and other amusements in Manchester before 1810. *''Memorials of Manchester Streets'', 1874. *''Memorials of Bygone Manchester, with Glimpses of the Environs'', 1880.

Notes

Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Procter, Richard Wright 1816 births 1881 deaths People from Salford Burials in Greater Manchester English male poets 19th-century English poets 19th-century English male writers