Augustus Dickens
Encyclopedia
Augustus Newnham Dickens (1827 – 4 October 1866) was the youngest brother of English
novel
ist Charles Dickens
, and the inspiration for his pen name
'Boz'. Because of the presence of Augustus Dickens and his family in Chicago
, Charles Dickens never visited that city on any of his American
reading tours.
, a clerk in the Navy Pay Office
at Portsmouth, and his wife, Elizabeth
(née
Barrow). Charles Dickens's pen name
, 'Boz', was actually taken from his youngest brother's family nickname
'Moses', given to him in honor of one of the brothers in The Vicar of Wakefield
(one of the most widely read novels in the early 19th century), which when playfully pronounced through the nose became corrupted as 'Boses', and later shortened to 'Boz' - pronounced with a long vowel 'o' through the nose.
In 1844 Charles Dickens wrote to Chapman & Co., a shipping merchant, trying to obtain a position for Augustus, saying "I have a young brother recently come up from a good school at Exeter, and now living, with his father, at Greenwich...He is quick and clever: has never given trouble to anybody: and has been well brought up."
In 1845 and 1847 Augustus performed in Charles Dickens's amateur theatricals while continuing to work for Chapman & Co. In 1848 Charles Dickens invited Thomas Chapman, his brother's employer, to Augustus's wedding and "to breakfast with us on the day of Augustus' marriage to Harriett Lovell at Trinity Church, Marylebone, on 5 December 1848.
in the United States
with Bertha Phillips (1829–1868), the daughter of James Phillips, an English solicitor. They lived together as man and wife
. Moving to Amboy, Illinois
, in February 1855 he became the editor of the 'Lee County Times', a position he only held until August 1 of that year, when it passed into the hands of H. B. Judkins. Augustus Dickens placed an advert in the Amboy Times of 4 June 1857 announcing the opening of his "People's Cheap Store." He later sold the store and bought a small farm in the same area.
In June 1860 Dickens moved back to Chicago where he obtained a job with the Illinois Central Land Department. Once settled he sent for Bertha and his three children, Bertram, Adrian and Amy Bertha Dickens. Frederick Barnard, a neighbour of Augustus Dickens at this time later wrote:
An article in The Chicago Herald in 1895 described Augustus as "...inert, indifferent and thriftless. He was competent enough, but he was addicted to intemperance to a degree that practically blighted his usefulness. What he might have become, if of correct habits, no one dared to predict. As it was, he wasted his slender income on liquor..." The paper claimed that several letters were written begging Dickens to come to Chicago to see his brother's plight, but that, to avoid having to meet his brother and his family, Charles Dickens avoided Chicago when he visited the United States
on his reading tours. In reality, though, Augustus was already dead by the time Dickens' American tour was even announced.
Augustus Dickens died from tuberculosis
in America aged 39 and was buried in Graceland Cemetery
in Chicago. His older brother Charles Dickens supported both of Augustus's wives financially.
Bertha Phillips Dickens committed suicide on 24 December 1868 by taking an overdose of morphine
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, and the inspiration for his pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
'Boz'. Because of the presence of Augustus Dickens and his family in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Charles Dickens never visited that city on any of his American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
reading tours.
Early life
Augustus Dickens was the son of John DickensJohn Dickens
John Dickens was the father of English novelist Charles Dickens and was the model for Mr Micawber in his son's semi-autobiographical novel David Copperfield.-Biography:...
, a clerk in the Navy Pay Office
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at Portsmouth, and his wife, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Dickens
Elizabeth Culliford Dickens was the wife of John Dickens and the mother of English novelist Charles Dickens. She was the source for Mrs...
(née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Barrow). Charles Dickens's pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
, 'Boz', was actually taken from his youngest brother's family nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
'Moses', given to him in honor of one of the brothers in The Vicar of Wakefield
The Vicar of Wakefield
The Vicar of Wakefield is a novel by Irish author Oliver Goldsmith. It was written in 1761 and 1762, and published in 1766, and was one of the most popular and widely read 18th-century novels among Victorians...
(one of the most widely read novels in the early 19th century), which when playfully pronounced through the nose became corrupted as 'Boses', and later shortened to 'Boz' - pronounced with a long vowel 'o' through the nose.
In 1844 Charles Dickens wrote to Chapman & Co., a shipping merchant, trying to obtain a position for Augustus, saying "I have a young brother recently come up from a good school at Exeter, and now living, with his father, at Greenwich...He is quick and clever: has never given trouble to anybody: and has been well brought up."
In 1845 and 1847 Augustus performed in Charles Dickens's amateur theatricals while continuing to work for Chapman & Co. In 1848 Charles Dickens invited Thomas Chapman, his brother's employer, to Augustus's wedding and "to breakfast with us on the day of Augustus' marriage to Harriett Lovell at Trinity Church, Marylebone, on 5 December 1848.
United States
Later, when his wife became blind Augustus callously left her, moving to ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Bertha Phillips (1829–1868), the daughter of James Phillips, an English solicitor. They lived together as man and wife
Common-law marriage
Common-law marriage, sometimes called sui juris marriage, informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute, is a form of interpersonal status that is legally recognized in limited jurisdictions as a marriage even though no legally recognized marriage ceremony is performed or civil marriage...
. Moving to Amboy, Illinois
Amboy, Illinois
Amboy is a city in Lee County, Illinois, along the Green River. The population was 2,561 at the 2000 census. The chain of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. began in Amboy when Samuel Carson opened his first dry goods store there in 1854...
, in February 1855 he became the editor of the 'Lee County Times', a position he only held until August 1 of that year, when it passed into the hands of H. B. Judkins. Augustus Dickens placed an advert in the Amboy Times of 4 June 1857 announcing the opening of his "People's Cheap Store." He later sold the store and bought a small farm in the same area.
In June 1860 Dickens moved back to Chicago where he obtained a job with the Illinois Central Land Department. Once settled he sent for Bertha and his three children, Bertram, Adrian and Amy Bertha Dickens. Frederick Barnard, a neighbour of Augustus Dickens at this time later wrote:
- "I remember Augustus Dickens well," he said. "A more genial and whole-souled man never lived. His face bore a remarkable resemblance to portraits of his brother that I have seen. Augustus was small and spare and not at all striking in appearance. But his ready humor, his brilliant conversation, made him the life of whatever company he happened to be in, and he was probably the most popular man in the land office. His manners were most polished and he gave the impression of having had a splendid education... their house was the frequent gathering place of a coterie of people of refinement and culture and of musicians...of great ability. Mrs. Dickens' playing of classical music on the piano was grand...She was familiar with the music of all the great composers, and to hear her play at evening receptions and parties at her home was a great treat for her guests. She would often sing as she played, and I can remember clearly the rich, mellow sweetness of her voice. Mrs. Dickens was an exemplary wife, a woman of gentle breeding and fine education."
An article in The Chicago Herald in 1895 described Augustus as "...inert, indifferent and thriftless. He was competent enough, but he was addicted to intemperance to a degree that practically blighted his usefulness. What he might have become, if of correct habits, no one dared to predict. As it was, he wasted his slender income on liquor..." The paper claimed that several letters were written begging Dickens to come to Chicago to see his brother's plight, but that, to avoid having to meet his brother and his family, Charles Dickens avoided Chicago when he visited the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on his reading tours. In reality, though, Augustus was already dead by the time Dickens' American tour was even announced.
Augustus Dickens died from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in America aged 39 and was buried in Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road...
in Chicago. His older brother Charles Dickens supported both of Augustus's wives financially.
Bertha Phillips Dickens committed suicide on 24 December 1868 by taking an overdose of morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
.
Siblings of Augustus Dickens
- Frances (Fanny) Elizabeth Dickens, 1810 - 1848
- Charles John Huffam DickensCharles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
- Letitia Dickens, 1816 – 1893
- Harriet Dickens 1819 - 1824
- Frederick DickensFrederick DickensFrederick William Dickens was the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens and was Charles Dickens' younger brother, who lived with Charles when he moved on to Furnival's Inn in 1834...
- Alfred Lamert Dickens