George Huddesford
Encyclopedia
Rev. George Huddesford was a painter and a satirical poet in Oxford
. Huddesford published a number of works. His first was described by Fanny Burney
as a "vile poem" as it revealed that she had written the novel, Evelina
.
and Trinity College, Oxford
. His elder brother, William, was to become a leading creator of the Ashmolean Museum
.
Huddesford left his father's college and became a fellow of New College in 1771. Huddesford resigned the fellowship as a result of his marriage a year later. It was said that Huddesford had married in haste and unwisely driven by youthful enthusiasm for his prospective wife.
Huddesford was an amateur painter and was a student of Joshua Reynolds
after he left Oxford. Huddesford was able to have several paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy
before 1775. He had carried out several paintings in oil including a full length portrait of George Lee
, the Earl of Lichfield. Joshua Reynolds in turn captured Huddesford in a painting that Huddesford had commissioned, with his good friend John C. Bampfylde and also complete a painting of Mrs Huddesford.
His satire 'Warley, A Satire' was published anonymously in 1778 and was dedicated to Joshua Reynolds. This work was called a "vile poem" by Fanny Burney
as it revealed that she was the author of Evelina
, a novel she had published anonymously as well as revealing a pet name that had been given to her by Samuel Johnson. Other satirical poems followed with "the French" and rigged elections as targets of his wordplay. One later work was a collection of poetry by old fellow Winchester College students which was called the "Wiccamical Chaplet".
In 1791, Huddesford wrote a comic verse anonymously on the subject of the death of Thomas Warton
(the younger) who had been Professor of poetry in Oxford, and a friend to Samuel Johnson
, Reynolds and Edmund Burke
. This large poem compares Warton to a college cat and it is titled, "Monody on the Death of Dick, an Academical Cat." The poem is littered with clever puns and allusions. The painting of him with John Bampfylde shows the two of them admiring a portrait of Thomas Warton who was master of Winchester College. Huddesford and Bampfylde were close friends, but their relationship was destroyed when Bampfylde was arrested for breaking windows in order to further his affection for Reynold's niece. His good friend was eventually sent to a mental asylum where he was kept for twenty years. It is said that Bampfylde regained his sanity but died of tuberculosis shortly after reclaiming his freedom.
Huddesford joined the church in the six years before his death in London. His connections had brought him the living of Loxley
in Warwickshire and "Sir George Whelkers Chapel" in London.
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. Huddesford published a number of works. His first was described by Fanny Burney
Fanny Burney
Frances Burney , also known as Fanny Burney and, after her marriage, as Madame d’Arblay, was an English novelist, diarist and playwright. She was born in Lynn Regis, now King’s Lynn, England, on 13 June 1752, to musical historian Dr Charles Burney and Mrs Esther Sleepe Burney...
as a "vile poem" as it revealed that she had written the novel, Evelina
Evelina
Evelina or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World is a novel written by English author Frances Burney and first published in 1778...
.
Life
Huddesford was baptized at St. Mary Magdalen, Oxford, on 7 December 1749. His father, also George Huddesford, was the president of Trinity College. He attended Winchester CollegeWinchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
. His elder brother, William, was to become a leading creator of the Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
.
Huddesford left his father's college and became a fellow of New College in 1771. Huddesford resigned the fellowship as a result of his marriage a year later. It was said that Huddesford had married in haste and unwisely driven by youthful enthusiasm for his prospective wife.
Huddesford was an amateur painter and was a student of Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
after he left Oxford. Huddesford was able to have several paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
before 1775. He had carried out several paintings in oil including a full length portrait of George Lee
George Lee, 3rd Earl of Lichfield
George Henry Lee II, 3rd Earl of Lichfield PC was a British politician and peer. He was made a Privy Councillor and Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms in 1762, holding both honors until death...
, the Earl of Lichfield. Joshua Reynolds in turn captured Huddesford in a painting that Huddesford had commissioned, with his good friend John C. Bampfylde and also complete a painting of Mrs Huddesford.
His satire 'Warley, A Satire' was published anonymously in 1778 and was dedicated to Joshua Reynolds. This work was called a "vile poem" by Fanny Burney
Fanny Burney
Frances Burney , also known as Fanny Burney and, after her marriage, as Madame d’Arblay, was an English novelist, diarist and playwright. She was born in Lynn Regis, now King’s Lynn, England, on 13 June 1752, to musical historian Dr Charles Burney and Mrs Esther Sleepe Burney...
as it revealed that she was the author of Evelina
Evelina
Evelina or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World is a novel written by English author Frances Burney and first published in 1778...
, a novel she had published anonymously as well as revealing a pet name that had been given to her by Samuel Johnson. Other satirical poems followed with "the French" and rigged elections as targets of his wordplay. One later work was a collection of poetry by old fellow Winchester College students which was called the "Wiccamical Chaplet".
In 1791, Huddesford wrote a comic verse anonymously on the subject of the death of Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. From 1785 to 1790 he was the Poet Laureate of England...
(the younger) who had been Professor of poetry in Oxford, and a friend to Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
, Reynolds and Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
. This large poem compares Warton to a college cat and it is titled, "Monody on the Death of Dick, an Academical Cat." The poem is littered with clever puns and allusions. The painting of him with John Bampfylde shows the two of them admiring a portrait of Thomas Warton who was master of Winchester College. Huddesford and Bampfylde were close friends, but their relationship was destroyed when Bampfylde was arrested for breaking windows in order to further his affection for Reynold's niece. His good friend was eventually sent to a mental asylum where he was kept for twenty years. It is said that Bampfylde regained his sanity but died of tuberculosis shortly after reclaiming his freedom.
Huddesford joined the church in the six years before his death in London. His connections had brought him the living of Loxley
Loxley, Warwickshire
Loxley, Warwickshire is a village near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. It has been supposed that Robin Hood was born and raised here. Some believe that a certain Robert Fitz Oto is the true Robin Hood, as he owned Loxley manor and his tombstone lies by Loxley parish church. Similar claims are...
in Warwickshire and "Sir George Whelkers Chapel" in London.
Works
- 'Warley, a Satire' (anon.), part i., October 1778; part ii., November 1778
- 'Salmagundi: a Miscellaneous Combination of Original Poetry’ (anon.), 1791
- 'Topsy Turvy; with Anecdotes and Observations illustrative of the Present Government of France’ (anon.), 1793
- 'Bubble and Squeak: a Gallimaufry of British Beef with the Chopp'd Cabbage of Gallic Philosophy and Radical Reform' (anon.), 1799. #'Crambe Repetita, a Second Course of Bubble and Squeak' (anon.), 1799.
- 'Les Champignons du Diable, or Imperial Mushrooms,' 1805.
- 'The Scum Uppermost when the Middlesex Porridge-pot Boils Over: an Heroic Election Ballad,’ 1802; two editions.
- 'Wood and Stone, or a Dialogue between a Wooden Duke [of Northumberland] and Stone Lion [over his house at Charing Cross, London],' c. 1802.
- ‘Wiccamical Chaplet.’ (Editor)
- 'Bonaparte: an Heroic Ballad.'