John Nicholson (1790-1843). Portrait by William Overend Geller (1804-1881). Courtesy The Local Leader.
John Nicholson (29 November 1790 - 13 April 1843) was an English poet, known as "the Airedale poet."
Life[]
Nicholson, the eldest son of Thomas Nicholson, was born at Weardley, near Harewood, Yorkshire, on 29 Nov. 1790. He received an elementary education at Eldwick, near Bingley, where his family had moved, and then at Bingley Grammar School, under Dr. Hartley.[1]
He became a wool-sorter in his father's factory at Eldwick, and followed that occupation to the end of his life, allowing for intervals when he was hawking his poems.[1]
Through life Nicholson spent much time in dissipation. He married his first wife, a Miss Driver of Cote, in 1810, and her death shortly afterwards changed his character for a time, and he became a methodist local preacher. Marrying again in 1813, he gradually resumed his intemperate habits, and had several times to be assisted by friends, as well as by contributions from the Royal Literary Fund.[1]
In 1818 he left Eldwick for Red Bech, working at Shipley Fields mill until 1822, when he removed to Harden Beck, near Bingley. Remaining for a short time at Hewnden, he went in 1833 to Bradford, and was employed in the warehouse of Titus (afterwards Sir Titus) Salt.[1]
His death, on 13 April 1843, was the result of a cold following upon immersion in the Aire. He is buried in Bingley churchyard. His 2nd wife, by whom he had a large family, survived him 30 years, when she was accidentally burned to death.[1]
Writing[]
Nicholson's earliest published work was The Siege of Bradford (Bradford, 1821; 2nd edit. 1831), a dramatic poem which, along with a 3-act drama, The Robber of the Alps, he had written for the Bradford old theatre. There were also a few short poems in this work.[1]
It was not until the appearance of Airedale in Ancient Times (Bradford, 1825) that Nicholson's claim to rank as a poet was generally recognised. The success of this volume was unique. The whole impression was sold in a few months, and a 2nd edition followed in the same year. The poem, which gained for him the title of "the Airedale poet," is the best of his larger pieces. It contains some fine descriptions of the scenery of the district and of the various stirring incidents connected with its history.[1]
It was followed by the publication, mostly in pamphlet form, of separate pieces, such as The Poacher, The Lyre of Ebor, etc., which were collected in a complete edition of his Poems, with a life by John James, F.S.A., published at Bradford in 1844 (2nd edition, Bingley, 1876). The best edition of Nicholson's works, giving portrait and photographic illustrations of the text, is that edited by W.J. Hird (Bradford, 1876).[1]
Nicholson was a comparatively uneducated man; but, despite the consequent defects of expression and composition, some of his minor pieces are gems of their kind, full of originality, grace, and feeling; and the local colouring of his verse has naturally made his name a "household word" in the West Riding.
Recognition[]
His portrait was painted by his friend, W.O. Geller, and a steel engraving of it appears in the editions of 1844 and 1876.[1]
Publications[]
Poetry[]
- Airedale in Ancient Times; Elwood and Elvina; The poacher; and other poems. London: Seeley & Son, 1825.
- The Airedale Poet's Walk. Knaresbrough, Yorkshire, UK: W. Langdale, 1826.
- Lines on the Present State of the Country. 3rd edition, Bradford, UK: G. & E. Nicholson, 1826.
- The Lyre of Ebor; The fall of Belshazzar; Genius and intemperance; and other poems. . London: Seeley & Son, 1827.
- Lines on the Present Distress of the Country. Leeds, UK: Edward Wood, 1830.
- Lines Suggested by the Near Approach of the Cholera. Bradford, UK: E. Keighley, 1831.
- The Factory-Child: A poem. London : Whittaker, Treacher, & Arnot, 1831
- revised & expanded, London: W. Crofts, 1832.
- Poems (edited by John James). London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans / Bradford, UK: Charles Stanfield, 1844.
- Poems (edited by William Dearden). London: W.H. Young / Bingley, UK: J. Harrison & Sons, 1859.
- Poetical Works (edited by W.G. Hird). London: Simpkin, Marshall / Bradford, UK: T. Brear, 1876.
Play[]
- The Siege of Bradford. Bradford, UK: privately published, printed by J. Nicholson, 1821; Bradford, UK: E. Keighley, 1831.
Except where noted, bibliographical information oourtesy WorldCat.[2]
See also[]
References[]
Hadden, James Cuthbert (1895) "Nicholson, John (1790-1843)" in Lee, Sidney Dictionary of National Biography 41 London: Smith, Elder, p. 17. Wikisource, Web, Dec. 7, 2016.
Notes[]
External links[]
- Poems
- John Nicholson at AllPoetry (4 poems)
- Books
- John Nicholson at Amazon.com
- About
- "The Bingley Byron" at The Local Leader
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, the Dictionary of National Biography (edited by Leslie Stephen). London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900. Original article is at:Nicholson, John (1790-1843)
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