Thomas Bailey (1785–1856), was an English
topographer
Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the land forms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps.
Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary scie ...
and miscellaneous writer.
Biography
Bailey was born in
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 ...
on 31 July 1785. His education was received partly in a
day school
A day school — as opposed to a boarding school — is an educational institution where children and adolescents are given instructions during the day, after which the students return to their homes. A day school has full-day programs when compar ...
in his native town, and partly in a
boarding school
A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. As they have existed for many centuries, and now exten ...
at
Gillingham, Yorkshire. Afterwards he was for some time engaged in business as a
silk-hosier.
Politically liberal, he came forward in 1830 as a candidate for the representation of the borough of Nottingham, though was ultimately unsuccessful. In 1836 he was elected to the
town council
A town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities.
Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions.
Republic of Ireland
Town Councils in the Republic of Ireland were the second ti ...
, and he continued to be a member for seven years.
In 1845-6 he became proprietor and editor of the ''
Nottingham Mercury
The ''Nottingham Mercury'' was a newspaper printed in Nottingham.
Eighteenth century
The first paper to use the title ''Nottingham Mercury'' was launched on 1 January 1714 by John Collyer and printed at the Hen Cross. Originally called ''The New ...
'', but his opinions were considered too temperate by his readers. The circulation of the paper declined, and in 1851 the mass of subscribers withdrew in protest at Bailey's views respecting the original error of the
Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, and his prophecies of its inevitable failure. In the following year the journal declared bankrupt.
In 1830, he purchased a mansion at Basford, near Nottingham, where he spent the later years of his life, engaged in literary pursuits and in the formation of a collection of books and engravings.
He died at Basford on 23 October 1856. His son,
Philip James Bailey
Philip James Bailey (22 April 1816 – 6 September 1902) was an English spasmodic poet, best known as the author of ''Festus''.
Life
Bailey was born on 22 April 1816 in Nottingham, the only son of Thomas Bailey by his first wife, Mary Taylor. ...
, is the author of ''Festus'' and of other poems.
Publications
# 'What is Life? and other Poems,' Lond., 1820, 12mo.
# 'The Carnival of Death,' a poem, Lond., 1822, 16mo.
# 'A Sermon on the Death of Byron,' 1824.
# 'Ireton,' a poem, Lond. 1827, 8vo.
# 'Discourse on Political Revolutions,' 1830.
# 'Recreations in Retirement,' a miscellany of poetry and prose, 1836.
# 'The Rights of Labour,' a pamphlet, 1844.
# 'The Advent of Charity and other Poems,' Lond. 1861, 16mo.
# 'Annals of Nottinghamshire; a new and popular history of the county of Nottingham, including the borough,' 4 vols., Lond. 1852–55, 8vo, his most important publication.
# 'Village Reform: the great social necessity of Britain.' being a letter to Lord Palmerston, Lond. 1854, 12mo.
# 'Handbook to Nottingham Castle,' Lond. 1854, 8vo.
# 'Handbook to Newstead Abbey,' Lond. 1855, 12mo.
# 'Records of Longevity; with an introductory discourse on Vital Statistics,' Lond. 1857, 8vo.
References
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Thomas
1785 births
1856 deaths
English topographers
19th-century English writers
People from Nottingham
19th-century geographers