Chapter Hunt to Huxley of H by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Hunt to Huxley

Hunt, James Henry Leigh (1784-1859).—Essayist and poet, was born at Southgate, and educated at Christ’s Hospital. A selection of his earliest poems was published by his father in 1801 under the title of Juvenilia. In 1805 he joined his brother John in conducting a paper, the News, which the latter had started. Thereafter the brothers embarked upon the Examiner, a paper of pronounced Radical views. The appearance in this journal of an article on the Prince Regent in which he was described in words which have been condensed into “a fat Adonis of fifty,” led to Hunt being fined £500, and imprisoned for two years. With his customary genial philosophy, however, the prisoner made the best of things, turned his cell into a study, with bookcases and a piano, and his yard into a garden. He had the sympathy of many, and received his friends, including Byron, Moore, and Lamb. On his release he published his poem, The Story of Rimini. Two other vols. of poetry followed, The Feast of the Poets and Foliage, in 1814 and 1818 respectively. In the latter year he started the Indicator, a paper something in the style of the Spectator or Tatler, and after this had run its course the Companion, conceived on similar lines, took its place in 1828. In 1822 Hunt went to Italy with Byron, and there established the Liberal, a paper which did not prove a success. Disillusioned with Byron, Hunt returned home, and published in 1828 Lord Byron and his Contemporaries, a work which gave great offence to Byron’s friends, who accused the author of ingratitude. In 1834 Hunt started the London Journal, which he edited for two years. Among his later works are Captain Sword and Captain Pen (1835), The Palfrey, a poem, A Legend of Florence (drama), Imagination and Fancy (1844), Wit and Humour (1846), A Jar of Honey from Mount Hybla (1848), The Old Court Suburb (1855), The Town, Sir Ralph Esher, a novel, and his Autobiography (1850). Although his poems have considerable descriptive power and brightness, he had not the depth and intensity to make a poet, and his reputation rests rather upon his essays, which are full of a genial philosophy, and display a love of books, and everything pleasant and beautiful. He did much to popularise the love of poetry and literature in general among his fellow-countrymen.

Hurd, Richard (1720-1808).—Divine, and miscellaneous writer, born at Congreve, Staffordshire, was educated at Cambridge, and entering the Church, became Bishop successively of Lichfield and Worcester. He produced an edition of the Ars Poetica of Horace, Dissertations on Poetry, Dialogues on Sincerity, Letters on Chivalry and Romance, and An Introduction to the Prophecies. He was in 1783 offered, but declined, the Primacy.

Hutcheson, Francis (1694-1746).—Philosopher, born in Ireland, and educated for the Presbyterian ministry at Glasgow University After keeping an academy at Dublin for some years he published his Enquiry into Beauty and Virtue, which won for him a great reputation. In 1729 he became Professor of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow, where he exercised a great influence over his students, and also upon the Scottish system of philosophy. In his philosophical views he was to some extent a disciple of Shaftesbury. He introduced the term, “moral sense,” which he defined as a power of perceiving moral attributes in action. His System of Moral Philosophy appeared posthumously in two vols.

Hutchinson, Mrs. Lucy (born 1620).—Biographer, daughter of Sir Allan Apsley, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, married in 1638 John, afterwards Colonel, Hutchinson, one of those who signed the death- warrant of Charles I., but who afterwards protested against the assumption of supreme power by Cromwell. She has a place in literature for her Life of her husband, one of the most interesting biographies in the language, not only on account of its immediate subject, but of the light which it throws upon the characteristics and conditions of the life of Puritans of good family. Originally intended for her family only, it was printed by a descendant in 1806, and did much to clear away the false impressions as to the narrowness and austerity of the educated Puritans which had prevailed. Colonel Hutchinson and his wife were noble representatives of their class.

Hutton, Richard Holt (1826-1897).—Essayist and miscellaneous writer, was brought up as a Unitarian, and for some time was a preacher of that body, but coming under the influence of F.D. Maurice and others of his school, joined the Church of England. He was a frequent contributor to various magazines and reviews, and assisted Walter Bagehot in editing the National Review. In 1861 he became joint- proprietor and editor of the Spectator. Among his other writings may be mentioned Essays, Theological and Literary (1871), Modern Guides of English Thought (1887), and Contemporary Thought and Thinkers