Person    | Male  Born 20/11/1752  Died 24/8/1770

Thomas Chatterton

Categories: Poetry

Poet and forger of pseudo-medieval poetry. Born Bristol. Largely self-taught, read extensively and began writing verse aged 11. Became besotted with the medieval period and faked the writings of a monk, Thomas Rowley (c.1400 - 1470) and claimed to have found them in amongst his late father's possessions. At 17 he moved to London and for four months continued publishing poetry, both in his own name and Rowley's, and was successful. However he was found dead from arsenic poisoning, aged just 17. This is now thought to have been due to an accidental overdose of medicine for venereal disease. The romantic myth of a starving poet's suicide in a garret, supported by Henry Wallis's painting, has taken a firm grip.
After his death more of 'Rowley's writings were published and the controversy about their authenticity began, involving many of the literary men of the age including Horace Walpole. Chatterton was eventually declared a genius and a forger.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Thomas Chatterton

Commemorated ati

Thomas Chatterton - first

In a house on this site Thomas Chatterton died August 24th 1770. Corporation...

Read More

Thomas Chatterton - second

Plaques are designed to be laid into brickwork, as this was on its first buil...

Read More

Other Subjects

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Born 7 Chester Street, Chelsea. Poet associated with the Pre-Raphaelites. He invented the poetic form called ‘roundel’. Was a good friend of Dante Rossetti, who called him his ’little Northumbrian ...

Person, Poetry

4 memorials
John Donne

John Donne

Poet and clergyman.  Born in Bread Street into a literate Catholic family (connected to Sir Thomas More) at a time when the Catholic religion was banned. Appointed private secretary to Sir Thomas E...

Person, Poetry

1 memorial
Sir Stephen Spender

Sir Stephen Spender

Poet.  Born 47 Campden House Court, Kensington.  The Evening Standard carries a very critical review of a 2012 edition of Spender's journals. Died at home at 15 Loudoun Road, St John's Wood , or i...

Person, Poetry

1 memorial
Thomas Middleton

Thomas Middleton

Playwright.  Born London, probably in in a house on the corner of Ironmonger Lane and Cateaton Street (now Gresham Street). Baptized on 18 April 1580 in St Lawrence Jewry. He collaborated with a nu...

Person, Poetry, Theatre

1 memorial
Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay

Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay

Historian, essayist, poet.  Born Leicestershire but brought up in the Clapham home.  Spent four years (1834 - 8) as an administrator in India, during which he showed little interest in Indian cultu...

Person, History, Poetry, Politics & Administration, India

4 memorials