Leigh Hunt (James Henry Leigh Hunt) By: Caroline Gainous Ms. Adkins 2nd block

About Leigh Hunt Born October 19, 1784, Southgate, Middlesex, England Died August 28, 1859, Putney, London His father was Isaac Hunt, a lawyer from Philadelphia His mother was Mary Shewell, a merchant’s daughter Isaac is originally from Barbados He was apart of the Romantic Movement

Early Life His family fled from Philadelphia to England Was the first child and youngest son to be born out of America Leigh enrolled in the ‘Christ’s Hospital’ He was unable to join the university He didn’t do much after he left school

Career He started writing for the newspapers after he left school He worked for a while as a clerk in his barrister brother Stephen’s office Leigh’s major poem ‘The Story of Rimini’ earned him a spot in English Lit. He introduced Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats to the public

Career (cont.) Shelley and Lord Byron convinced him to move to Italy When Shelley died, Leigh was shattered Leigh faced extreme poverty and sickness His financial distress was gone when Mary Shelley gave him $150 and later $250

‘Jenny Kissed Me’ Jenny kissed me when we met a Jumping from the chair she sat in; b Time, you thief, who love to get a Sweets into your list, put that in! b Say I’m weary, say I’m sad, c Say that health and wealth have missed me, d Say that I’m growing old, but add, c Jenny kissed me d

‘Song of Fairies Robbing an Orchard’ We, the Fairies, blithe and antic a Of dimensions not gigantic, a Though the moonshine mostly keep us, b Oft in orchards frisk and peep us. b Stolen sweets are always sweeter, c Stolen kisses much completer, c Stolen looks are nice in chapels, d Stolen, stolen, be your apples. d When to bed the world are bobbing, e Then’s the time for orchard-robbing; e Yet the fruit were scarce worth peeling, f Were it not for stealing, stealing. f

‘Death’ Death is a road our dearest friends have gone; a Why with such leaders, fear to say, "Lead on?“ a Its gate repels, lest it too soon be tried, b But turns in balm on the immortal side. b Mothers have passed it: fathers, children; men c Whose like we look not to behold again; c Women that smiled away their loving breath; d Soft is the travelling on the road to death! d

Achievements He produced a large body of poetry in a variety of forms The general public of his time respected him as an important literary figure Leigh’s translations are the finest in English He is known as an English essayist, critic journalist, and poet

Facts about Leigh Hunt He married Marianne Kent and they had 10 children His wife became an alcoholic over the years Leigh’s wife died January 26, 1857 His son Thornton said that Elizabeth was better for him John and Leigh were in prison for 2 years

Works Cited http://www.nndb.com/people/452/000107131/ http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/leigh-hunt- 7050.php http://study.com/academy/lesson/leigh-hunt-poems- biography-lesson-quiz.html

THE END