Dobson, Austin, 1840-1921

Dobson became known as a poet for his works "Proverbs in Porcelain" (1877) and "Collected Poems" (1897), in which he used the French forms, and as a biographer, for "Fanny Burney" and "Horace Walpole."

Henry Austin Dobson, civil servant and poet, was born on 18 January 1840. After leaving school at the age of 16, he joined the Board of Trade where he remained until his retirement as Principal in 1901. He had an enduring enthusiasm for the eighteenth century and for poetry. He composed a large quantity of his own poetry and was well known for his adaptation of old French verses. His earliest volume of poetry was Vignettes in Rhyme , (1873). Later in his life, Dobson turned his attention increasingly to prose, resulting in several volumes of essays including Eighteenth Century Prose (in 3 series; 1892, 1894 and 1896). He died in 1921.

Henry Austin Dobson was born in Plymouth, and educated in England and Strasbourg. At sixteen, he returned to England and took a position as clerk with the Board of Trade, where he remained for forty-five years. After a brief attempt to develop his talents as a painter, he began writing poetry, and became a popular and prolific writer of light verse. His interest in 18th-century literature led him to compose numerous biographies of British writers; he also wrote the influential Civil Service Handbook of English Literature, and contributed to The Civil Service History of England. A talented, energetic man-of-letters who led a sedate private life, Dobson is remembered for his intelligence, industry, and wry humor.

British poet and author.

Epithet: author

English poet and critic.

Henry Austin Dobson (1840-1921) was an English poet and biographer. Much of his poetry reflected the spirit of the 18th century, and some poems were written with illustrations in mind.