John Hookham Frere facts for kids
John Hookham Frere (born May 21, 1769 – died January 7, 1846) was an English diplomat and writer. He served his country in important roles abroad and was also known for his clever poems and translations of ancient Greek plays.
Growing Up and School
John Hookham Frere was born in London. His father, John Frere, came from a family in Suffolk and was a smart student at Caius College, Cambridge. His mother, Jane, was also very cultured and enjoyed writing poetry. John's aunt, Ellenor Fenn, wrote educational books for children.
Young John went to Eton College in 1785. There, he became good friends with George Canning, who would later become a very important person in his life. After Eton, John went to Cambridge University, just like his father. He started working for the government in the foreign office in 1796. He also served as a Member of Parliament for West Looe until 1802.
His Diplomatic Career
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From a young age, John Hookham Frere admired William Pitt the Younger, a famous British Prime Minister. Frere and his friend George Canning helped defend Pitt's government. They wrote for a newspaper called the Anti-Jacobin. They even wrote funny poems together, like The Loves of the Triangles.
In 1800, Frere became an envoy, or official representative, in Lisbon, Portugal. In 1802, he moved to Madrid, Spain. He stayed there for two years. He was called back to England because of a disagreement with the Spanish Prime Minister, Godoy. However, the British government supported Frere's actions.
In 1805, Frere became a member of the Privy Council, a group of important advisors to the King. In 1807, he was supposed to go to Berlin, but that mission was cancelled. Instead, he was sent back to Spain in 1808. Spain was in a difficult situation because Napoleon's army was advancing.
Frere had to help decide what the British army, led by Sir John Moore, should do. Frere believed the army should be brave and defend Madrid. He pushed his ideas strongly, sometimes going beyond his official instructions. After a difficult retreat by the British army, some people blamed Frere for putting the soldiers in danger. He was called back to England, and his public career ended.
Life in Retirement
After his diplomatic career, John Hookham Frere chose to live a quieter life. He turned down offers to be an ambassador in Russia and even refused to become a lord. In 1816, he married Elizabeth Jemima Hay, the Countess of Erroll.
In 1820, because his wife's health was not good, they moved to Malta. He lived there for the rest of his life. In Malta, he spent his time reading his favorite Greek writers. He also learned Hebrew and the Maltese language. He enjoyed having English visitors and was well-liked by his Maltese neighbors. He even became friends with Mikiel Anton Vassalli, the first professor of Maltese at the University of Malta.
Frere passed away at Villa Frere in Pietà, near Valletta. He is buried in the Msida Bastion Cemetery. In 1833–34, as the head of the University of Malta's council, he gave 85 medical books to the Public Library. These books were specifically for young medical students.
His Written Works
John Hookham Frere is best known for his poetry and translations of ancient Greek plays. He translated several plays by Aristophanes, a famous Greek writer. These translations included The Acharnians, The Knights, The Birds, and The Frogs. They were first printed privately and later became well-known.
He also wrote a mock-heroic poem called Prospectus and Specimen of an intended National Work. This poem was important because Lord Byron, another famous poet, used a similar style in his own well-known poem, Don Juan.
Frere's complete works were published in 1871. A book about his life was included, written by his nephews.
See also
In Spanish: John Hookham Frere para niños
