Anthony Hope Hawkins was born on 9 February 1863 at Clapton, Middlesex (now Greater London), the last of the three children of the Reverend Edwards Comerford Hawkins (1827-1906) and Jane Isabella Hawkins née Grahame (1823-1888). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1863 in the Hackney registration district, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 12 April 1863 he was baptised at St James the Great Church, Hackney, where in the baptismal register his family is recorded as living in Clapton and his father was described as a Clerk in Holy Orders. His two siblings were: Geoffrey Grahame Hawkins (1860-1931) and Johanna Barbara Hawkins (1862-1911). He was a cousin of Kenneth Grahame who wrote The Wind in the Willows.
In the 1871 census he is shown as Anthony Hawkins, aged 8 years, living in St John's Foundation School for the sons of Poor Clergy, Clapton High Road, Hackney, with his parents, his sister who was recorded as Joan B. Hawkins, together with a governess, two assistant schoolmasters, a school's matron, 36 boarding pupils, a man servant, a male under gardener, a cook, 3 housemaids, a nurse and a sick nurse. His father was described as a 'Clergyman & Schoolmaster, M.A'.
He is shown as an 18-year-old scholar, boarding with 46 other boys in Marlborough College's Preshute House, Preshute Lane, Marlborough, Wiltshire, in the 1881 census. On 18 October 1881 he entered Balliol College, Oxford and in 1886 was President of the Oxford Union Society. He trained as a lawyer and barrister, being called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1887.
The 1891 census shows him as Anthony H. Hawkins, aged 28 years and a barrister living at 2 Bridewell Place, London, with his father who was described as the Vicar of St Bride's, Fleet Street and his brother Geoffrey G. Hawkins was a solicitor, together with a cook, parlour maid and a housemaid.
Better known as Anthony Hope, our picture source gives much information about the man and his most famous novel that he wrote in 1894, The Prisoner of Zenda.
Having travelled to the United States of America he is shown on 22 January 1898 as arriving in Liverpool, Lancashire (now Merseyside) having left New York, USA, occupying a cabin aboard the RMS Umbria of the Cunard Line where in the ship's manifest he is described as an author.
On the night of the 1901 census he was shown as a barrister-at-law and recorded as a visitor at The Imperial Hotel, Bath Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire (Dorset since 1974).
He returned to New York, USA, on 1 March 1903 and on 15 April 1903, accompanied by Elizabeth Somerville Sheldon (1882-1946), he returned to Liverpool aboard the RMS Oceanic of the White Star Line where they are shown on the ships manifest as occupying 1st class cabins.
On 1 July 1903 he married Elizabeth Somerville Sheldon at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 40 years, a bachelor and an author living at St Bride's Vicarage, whilst his wife was described as aged 20 years and a spinster residing at 18 Upper Gloucester Place, London NW, the daughter of Charles Henry Sheldon (1841-1910), a gentleman. His wife was an American who had been born in West Rutland, Rutland County, Vermont, USA. They had three children: Millicent Hope Hawkins (1904-1955); Richard Sheldon Hawkins (1905-1955) and David Edward Somerville Hawkins (1916-1941).
In the 1911 census he described himself as a 'Barrister. Author - living earned by author', residing in a 15 roomed property at 41 Bedford Square, London WC, with his wife, their two children: Millicent Hope Hawkins and Richard Sheldon Hawkins, together with a nursery governess, a parlour maid, a housemaid, a cook and a domestic nurse.
The London Gazette confirms that on 6 March 1918 King George V conferred upon him the honour of knighthood for his contribution to propaganda efforts during WW1.
Probate records confirm that he died, aged 70 years, on 8 July 1933 at Heath Farm, Deans Lane, Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Surrey, the home he had occupied since 1914. His death was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1933 in the Reigate registration district. His cause of death was given as throat cancer and he was buried in the churchyard of St Mary & St Nicholas Church, Church Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8HA. Probate was granted on 18 August 1933 to his widow and his effects totalled £29,044-4s-3d.
He is shown as 'Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins (ANTHONY HOPE). Novelist' on the blue plaque at 41 Bedford Square, London, WC1.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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