Person    | Male  Born 10/4/1778  Died 18/9/1830

William Hazlitt

Categories: Literature

Essayist. Initially wanted to be a philosopher, then tried painting and then journalism, where he was a success: as a drama reviewer, art critic, political commentator and creating sports writing as we know it.

Born in Maidstone, Kent. Along with many men of his time (Lamb, Coleridge, Shelley, Keats) he frequented the many brothels in London but unusually he spoke openly about his sexual appetites. He was a radical thinker and a libertarian, upsetting everyone by supporting Napoleon. Died in poverty, with two broken marriages and his reputation in tatters, but a happy man.

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:
William Hazlitt

Commemorated ati

Hazlitt

In a house on this site lived William Hazlitt, 1829. The Corporation of the ...

Read More

Spirit of Soho Mural

Interesting that Coca Cola are specifically mentioned on the panel but not as...

Read More

William Hazlitt

LCC William Hazlitt, 1778 - 1830, essayist, died here.

Read More

Other Subjects

Charles Hamilton (Frank Richards)

Charles Hamilton (Frank Richards)

Author for children.  Born Oak Street, Ealing, where the plaque now is.  Specialised in writing long series of stories generally using a different pen-name for each. Most famously, as Charles Hamil...

Person, Children, Literature

1 memorial
George Lillie Craik

George Lillie Craik

Born Kennoway, Fife. Literary scholar and writer. Created professor of English literature and history at Queen’s College, Belfast in 1849. Buried at Holywood, near Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Person, Education, History, Literature, Ireland, Scotland

1 memorial
De Profundis

De Profundis

Letter written by Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas whilst he was imprisoned in Reading Gaol. The title means 'from the depths' and recounts the relationship that the pair shared. It  criticises D...

Fiction, Literature

1 memorial
Robert Fabian

Robert Fabian

Robert Honey Fabian was born in Lewisham. He joined the police in 1921 and rose to the rank of Detective Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police. We wonder if he managed to keep his middle name s...

Person, Emergency Services, Literature

1 memorial
Edward Sackville-West

Edward Sackville-West

Edward Charles Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville was a music critic, novelist and, in his last 3 years, a member of the House of Lords. Born at Cadogan Gardens, son of Major-General Charles John...

Person, Literature, Music / songs, Politics & Administration

1 memorial