Born Manchester. Author, best known for "Confessions of an English Opium-Eater" (1821). Was as addicted to books as much as to drink or opium, sometimes renting an extra lodging (which he could not afford) because the first was full of books and papers. Reacted badly to his sister's death when he was a child, dwelling on the details of her corpse and post-mortem for longer than is healthy, Developed a profitable line writing sensational reports of murders, rapes, etc. for the mass magazine audience. Wrote "On murder considered as one of the fine arts" and stories of criminal detection which put him among the early detective fiction writers. Married and had 8 children but then moaned about how the noisy, hungry children kept inspiration at bay. His solution was to leave them in poverty for most of the time while he lived with friends, doing little work. Died at home in Edinburgh.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Thomas de Quincey
Commemorated ati
Thomas de Quincey
Note: "Quincey" seems to be the accepted spelling rather than the "Quincy" o...
Other Subjects
Bert Hardy
Documentary and press photographer known for his work published in 'Picture Post' 1941-57. Born and grew up in Priory Buildings. Photo Histories says Bert was "the first of seven children to carp...
William Randolph Hearst
Born San Francisco. A self-made, extremely wealthy newspaper man. The model for Citizen Kane.
Lydia Becker
President of NUWSS prior to Millicent Fawcett and campaigned for voting rights of unmarried women and widows. Also an amateur scientist with interests in biology and astronomy. Best remembered for ...
Edward Lloyd
Publisher and newspaper proprietor. Born Thornton Heath. His publishing career began at the lower end with sensational stories and Charles Dickens' plagiarisms/parodies, such as 'Oliver Twiss' and ...
Beckenham Journal
Newspaper. Started as a 24 page monthly publication costing 1d (about 0.5p). In 1881 it was taken over by Tom William Thornton, who published it weekly. Became a campaigning vehicle which informed ...