Izaak Walton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Izaak Walton
|
|
|---|---|
Portrait of Walton by Jacob Huysmans, c. 1672
|
|
| Born |
Izaak Walton
c. 1593 Stafford, England
|
| Died | 15 December 1683 (NS: 25 December 1683) Winchester, England
|
|
Notable work
|
The Compleat Angler (1653) |
| Spouse(s) |
|
Izaak Walton (born around 1593 – died 1683) was a famous English writer. He is best known for his book The Compleat Angler. This book is all about the art and joy of fishing.
Walton also wrote several short biographies. These included the life stories of his friends, like John Donne. His biographies are collected in a book called Walton's Lives.
Contents
About Izaak Walton
Izaak Walton was born in Stafford, England, around 1593. His father, Jervis Walton, was an innkeeper. Sadly, his father died when Izaak was very young. His mother then married another innkeeper.
Izaak likely went to school in Stafford. When he was a teenager, he moved to London. He trained to be a linen draper, which meant he sold cloth. He had a small shop in London.
Walton's Life in London
In London, Walton had a shop near Chancery Lane. He became involved with his local church, St Dunstan-in-the-West. He was a churchwarden and became good friends with the vicar, John Donne.
Walton married Rachel Floud in 1626. She was related to Thomas Cranmer, a famous archbishop. Rachel passed away in 1640. Walton then married Anne Ken around 1641. She was the stepsister of Thomas Ken, who later became a bishop.
Life During the English Civil War
During the English Civil War, Walton was a strong supporter of the King (a Royalist). After the Royalists lost a big battle in 1644, Walton stopped working as a linen draper.
He moved to a farm he bought near his hometown of Stafford. This farm was called Shallowford. It had a small river nearby, which was perfect for his love of fishing.
Walton even helped the Royalists in secret. He bravely helped hide one of the Crown Jewels. This jewel was smuggled out of the country to King Charles II, who was in exile.
Later Years and Death
Walton's famous book, The Compleat Angler, was first published in 1653. His second wife, Anne, died in 1662. She was buried in Worcester Cathedral.
For the last 40 years of his life, Walton enjoyed visiting friends. Many of these friends were clergymen who also loved fishing. He spent his time writing biographies and adding more to The Compleat Angler.
Izaak Walton passed away at the age of 90. He died in his daughter's house in Winchester on December 15, 1683. He was buried in Winchester Cathedral.
Walton's Will and Legacy
Izaak Walton left instructions in his will to help the poor people of his hometown, Stafford. He gave a farm he owned, called Halfhead, to the town.
The money from the farm was to be used for good causes. For example, it would help two poor boys each year become apprentices. This would help them learn a trade and earn a living. He also set aside money for a maidservant on her wedding day. Any leftover money was to buy coal for poor people in Stafford.
Izaak Walton's Cottage
Walton's farm at Shallowford, which he bought in 1655, is now a museum. It shows how people lived in his time. The museum also has a collection of old fishing items. There is a special room dedicated to his books, The Compleat Angler and Lives.
The cottage and its gardens are open to the public during the summer.
The Compleat Angler
The Compleat Angler is Izaak Walton's most famous book. It was first published in 1653. However, Walton kept adding to it for over 20 years! The book celebrates fishing and the beauty of nature. It includes both prose (like a story) and poetry.
The book teaches about different fishing methods. It also shares stories, songs, and poems. In the first version, there were two main characters: "Piscator" (the fisherman) and "Viator" (the traveler). Later, Walton added a third character, "Auceps" (the falconer). This allowed the characters to discuss their favorite outdoor activities.
A famous quote from the book, often about using a frog as bait, says: "use him as though you loved him, that is, harm him as little as you may possibly, that he may live the longer." This shows Walton's gentle approach to nature.
Walton's Lives
Besides The Compleat Angler, Walton wrote important biographies. These were life stories of people he admired. He started writing them because his friend, Sir Henry Wotton, asked him to finish a biography of John Donne.
Walton wrote about several notable figures:
- John Donne (a poet and clergyman)
- Sir Henry Wotton (a diplomat)
- Richard Hooker (a theologian)
- George Herbert (a poet and clergyman)
- Robert Sanderson (a bishop)
Walton chose to write about these men because they shared his gentle spirit and strong faith. Many of them also enjoyed fishing, just like him! His biographies give us a good look into their characters and lives.
Other Writings
Walton also wrote other works, including:
- Sir John Skeffington
- John Chalkhill
- Waltoniana (a collection of his poems and writings from 1878)
Walton in Other Books and Culture
Izaak Walton has been mentioned in many other books and works of art.
In Non-fiction Books
- The writer Charles Lamb recommended The Compleat Angler. He said it would "sweeten a man's temper" and make him feel peaceful.
- The American author Zane Grey mentioned Walton in his book Betty Zane. A character in the book asks if someone has read Walton's book.
In Fiction Books
- Charles Dickens mentioned Walton in his famous novel A Tale of Two Cities.
- Donna Tartt referenced him in her book The Secret History.
Honoring Izaak Walton
Many places and groups are named after Izaak Walton. This shows how much he is still remembered.
- The Izaak Walton League is an American group formed in 1922. It works to protect fishing streams and natural areas.
- He is in the American National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.
- There is a forest preserve in Illinois called the Izaak Walton Forest Preserve.
- Several hotels and pubs in England are named after him, like The Izaak Walton Hotel in Ilam.
- In his hometown of Stafford, there is a statue of him in the town park. A street there is also named after him.
- There is a creek in Minnesota and a mountain in California named after him.
- The Izaak Walton Inn is a hotel in Montana.
In the movie School Ties (1992), a history teacher mentions Izaak Walton as a favorite author.
See also
In Spanish: Izaac Walton para niños
