George Whyte-Melville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George John Whyte-Melville
Caricature by James Tissot in Vanity Fair
Born	(1821-06-19)19 June 1821 Mount Melville, St. Andrews, Scotland
Died	5 December 1878(1878-12-05) (aged 57) Braydon Pond, Charlton, Wiltshire, England
Nationality	Scottish
Occupation	Sportsman, soldier, and author
Years active	1851–1878
Known for	Novels with a hunting setting
Notable work	Riding Recollections (1878)

George John Whyte-Melville (born June 19, 1821 – died December 5, 1878) was a Scottish writer and poet. He was very interested in field sports, especially hunting. He also served as a soldier for a short time during the Crimean War. Whyte-Melville became famous for his novels that often featured hunting and adventure.

Life and Early Career

Whyte-Melville (far left) playing golf around 1852.

George John Whyte-Melville was born in 1821 at Mount Melville, near St Andrews, Scotland. His father, Major John Whyte-Melville, was a well-known sportsman and a leader at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. George's mother was Lady Catherine Anne Sarah Osborne.

George was taught at home by a tutor before going to Eton, a famous school. In 1839, he joined the army as an officer in the 93rd Highlanders. Later, in 1846, he moved to the Coldstream Guards. He left the army in 1849 with the rank of captain.

In 1847, Whyte-Melville married Charlotte Hanbury-Bateman. They had one daughter named Florence Elizabeth.

Becoming a Famous Author

Whyte-Melville started his writing career by translating some works by the ancient Roman poet Horace in 1850. His first novel, Digby Grand, was published in 1852 and was a big hit! After that, he wrote 21 more novels and became a very popular writer, especially for his stories about hunting.

Many of his characters, like Digby Grand and Kate Coventry, were involved in hunting. Some characters even appeared in different novels.

One of his books, Bones and I, or The Skeleton at Home, was quite different from his usual hunting stories. It was about a person living alone in London, looking out at a hospital wall. Whyte-Melville also wrote the words for a famous sad song called "Good-bye!" by Paolo Tosti.

He wrote several historical novels too, with The Gladiators being one of the most famous. Another historical novel, Sarchedon, was set in Ancient Babylon. Besides novels, he published poetry collections like Songs and Verses (1869). However, he is best remembered for his exciting stories about hunting and the society of his time.

Many other writers were inspired by Whyte-Melville. Henry Hawley Smart and Mrs. Lovett Cameron both looked up to him when they started writing sporting novels. He also encouraged Florence Montgomery to publish her children's stories.

A famous line from one of his hunting songs, "Drink, Puppy, Drink," is still remembered today. He also wrote the well-known opening line of a short poem: "To eat, drink, and be merry, because to-morrow we die."

Service in the Crimean War

When the Crimean War began, Whyte-Melville volunteered to serve as a major in the Turkish irregular cavalry. This was the only time he took a break from his busy writing career.

His Death

Sadly, George Whyte-Melville died in 1878 while out hunting with the Vale of White Horse Hunt. He fell from his horse while galloping across a field in Charlton, Wiltshire. It was surprising because he was a very skilled horseman and had often said he had only fallen once in twenty years!

He had moved to Tetbury, Gloucestershire, around 1875 to be closer to the best hunting areas. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Tetbury, very close to his home. A friend once asked him why he chose a house so near a graveyard. Whyte-Melville joked that it was a good choice for a hunting man because his friends wouldn't have to carry him far!

Memorials and Legacy

Whyte-Melville Memorial Fountain, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland

Some people believe that Whyte-Melville's death inspired the famous hunting song "John Peel." The person who wrote the lyrics, John Woodcock Graves, was a close friend of Whyte-Melville.

The Scottish poet Will H. Ogilvie was greatly influenced by Whyte-Melville. He even wrote two poems dedicated to him. Here are some lines from one of them:

How good it is, how good, to fling aside

The last new garbage-novel of the day

And turn again with pleasure and with pride

To your long line of volumes silver-grey,

And with you, gallant heart, to ride away

Through that clean world where your Sir Galahads ride!

In 1880, a special memorial fountain was built for Whyte-Melville in St Andrews, Scotland, thanks to donations from the public. His mother, Lady Catherine Melville, helped make this happen. The fountain is about 14 feet (427 cm) tall and has four marble plaques with his picture, family symbols, and a special message. After many years, the fountain stopped working, but it was fixed and started flowing again in 2015!

Books by Whyte-Melville

Here is a list of some of the books George John Whyte-Melville wrote:

Illustrations from Riding Recollections

Whyte-Melville's book Riding Recollections was a very popular guide about horsemanship. Even many years after his death, people recommended it for learning how to ride well. The book was reprinted many times.

Here are some illustrations by Edgar Giberne from the 1878 edition of Riding Recollections:

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  Leaving brothers, husbands, even admirers, hopelessly in the rear

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  Teaching horses to jump timber

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  Give the bridle a hard tug

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  An easy place under a tree

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  Asking the way

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  At Bay

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  Half a dozen shrill blasts in quick succession

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  The King of the Golden Mines

The illustrations changed over time. Here are some by Hugh Thomson from the 1898 edition of Riding Recollections:

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  Half a dozen shrill blasts

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  Choking a narrow hand gate

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  Watching his performances from the road

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  Handing his horse over

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  Accept the ridicule, and grasp the mane

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  Breaking the top rail with a hind hoof

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  I've spoilt my hat, I've torn my cloak

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  This strangely equipped pair

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  The old coachman piloting her children

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  While you smoke a cigar

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  A mouthful of gruel

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  Poised in air