Subject

Writer and poet. Born at St Ives in the former county of Huntingdonshire as Walter Theodore Watts. He later added his mother's maiden surname. He had a particular interest in gypsy lore and published several poems on the theme. A good friend of Dante Gabriel Rossetti in his declining years and also of Swinburne whom he got to give up drinking and adopt a regular living routine. However, he came in for criticism that he had stifled Swinburne's creativity. Died at his home, The Pines, 11 Putney Hill.