Emma Lyon facts for kids

Emma Henry (née Lyon) (17 September 1788 – 30 December 1870) was an English Jewish Romantic poet. Her book Miscellaneous Poems (1812) was one of the first poetry collections by a Jewish woman written in English.

Biography of Emma Henry

Early Life and Education

Emma Lyon was born in 1788. She was the oldest daughter of Rachel (née Hart) and Solmon Lyon. Her father was a Hebrew tutor at the University of Cambridge. He originally came from a place called Kuttenplan in Bohemia.

Emma grew up in Cambridge with her fifteen younger brothers and sisters. Her father started England's first Jewish boarding school there. Emma received a good liberal education, which means she learned many different subjects. In her free time, she loved to write poetry. In 1808, a musician named Isaac Nathan published a piece of music called "Miss Lyon's Hornpipe" to honor her. He had attended her father's school.

Becoming a Published Poet

Isaac Nathan's The Soldier's Farewell, a song based on Emma Lyon's poems.

Around 1812, Emma's father became blind because of cataracts. This meant he could no longer work. To help her family with money, Emma decided to publish her poems. She used a method called subscription. This meant people paid for the book before it was even printed.

Her collection of poems was called Miscellaneous Poems (1812). She dedicated the book to Princess Charlotte of Wales. The Princess was one of the people who subscribed to the book. Other important subscribers included her father, who later became King George IV, and other royal family members. Many important people from universities and churches also supported her. Some subscribers even came from as far away as Suriname.

Her book mainly contained short odes, which are poems praising something. It also had a few sonnets and other short poems. Some of her poems were turned into songs by Isaac Nathan. These songs were performed on the London stage by a famous singer named John Braham.

After her book was published, Emma Lyon married a merchant named Abraham Henry in 1816. She continued to write poems sometimes. These poems were often read at public events for charities, like the Jews' Hospital and the Jews' Free School. Sadly, none of her handwritten poems from this time are known to exist today.

Later Life and Family Legacy

Emma Henry passed away on 30 December 1870, when she was 82 years old.

Her youngest son, Michael Henry [Wikidata] (1830–1875), became a well-known journalist and writer. He was the editor of Jewish Chronicle newspaper from 1867 until he died.

Emma's granddaughter, Lucy Henry (1852–1898), became a children's writer. Her grandson, Alfred Henry (1853–1939), started an accounting company called Jeffreys Henry. Emma Henry's family continued to contribute to writing and business for many years after her.

Images for kids

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  Isaac Nathan's The Soldier's Farewell, a musical adaption of Lyon's poems