William Gilmore Simms was a 19th century American novelist, historian and poet who had strong pro-slavery views which, understandably, were at odds with many others around at that time. He belonged to the so-called “sacred circle” of southern-based intellectuals including Nathaniel Beverley Tucker and Edmund Ruffin who had strong moral views on the subject of master and slave. Simms even wrote a novel deliberately ...
William Haines Lytle was a 19th century American poet, politician and soldier who saw distinguished service in both the Civil War and the Mexican-American War, reaching the rank of Brigadier-General. He lost his life to a Confederate army sniper bullet at the Battle of Chickamauga in Georgia. He was born on the 2nd November 1826 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His family circumstances were comfortable and he was educated at ...
William Henry Ogilvie was a Scottish/Australian “bush ballad” poet and journalist, his name usually shortened to Will. He spent a good deal of time working in the outback as a drover where he became an expert horseman and horse breaker. He was born on the 21st August 1869 close to the Scottish border town of Kelso in Roxburghshire. He came from a large family of eight children ...
William Gay was a 19th century Australian poet and occasional teacher who had emigrated from Scotland. He was born on the 2nd May 1865 in Renfrewshire. His father, who was also called William and worked as an engraver who created patterns that would be used in the production of wallpaper, was very religious and hoped that his son would become a church minister. William jnr though ...
Winthrop Mackworth Praed was a 19th century English poet and politician whose life was tragically cut short by tuberculosis. He was born on the 28th July 1802 in London and he owed his unusual surname to a great grandfather’s marriage into a Cornish family. His father held the centuries old title of serjeant-at-law, meaning that he was a highly respected barrister. Young Winthrop began ...
