Joseph Ritson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Ritson
|
|
|---|---|
Joseph Ritson (Engraving by James Sayers, published in 1803)
|
|
| Born | 2 October 1752 Stockton-on-Tees, England
|
| Died | 23 September 1803 (aged 50) Hoxton, London, England
|
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Antiquarian, writer |
Joseph Ritson (born October 2, 1752 – died September 23, 1803) was an English expert who studied old things, known as an antiquary. He is famous for putting together the first serious collection of Robin Hood stories and songs in 1795.
After visiting France in 1791, he strongly supported the ideas of the French Revolution. He was also an important activist for vegetarianism. Joseph Ritson is also known for collecting English nursery rhymes, like "Roses Are Red" and "Little Bo-Peep". These were published in his book Gammer Gurton's Garland or The Nursery Parnassus.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joseph Ritson was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England. His family were farmers from Westmorland. He studied law and became a conveyancer, which means he prepared legal documents for property transfers. He then moved to London to work in this field.
A Dedicated Writer
Joseph Ritson spent his free time on literature. He was known for being very accurate in his work. He often criticized other writers if he found mistakes in their books. While his criticisms were sometimes harsh, he usually pointed out real errors.
Collecting Robin Hood Ballads
One of Ritson's biggest achievements was his collection of Robin Hood ballads. These are old songs and poems about the legendary outlaw. He made sure the texts were very accurate.
Ritson also added an interesting idea to the Robin Hood story. He suggested that Robin Hood robbed from the rich to give to the poor. Before Ritson, this idea was not common. When asked why Robin Hood would do this, Ritson famously replied that it was the same power that allowed kings to take from people.
Other Literary Works
Ritson also collected many old English songs, ballads, and stories. He was very careful to make sure the words were correct.
Even famous writers like Sir Walter Scott admired Ritson's hard work and accuracy. Scott described him as a man with "acute observation, profound research, and great labour." This means Ritson was a keen observer, did deep research, and worked very hard.
Later in his life, Ritson started using his own unique way of spelling words. He also experienced some health challenges towards the end of his life.
Supporting Vegetarianism
Joseph Ritson was one of the first people to actively support vegetarianism. He became a vegetarian in 1772 after reading a book called The Fable of the Bees. His diet mainly consisted of vegetables and milk.
His ideas about not eating meat were quite new at the time. However, they influenced many vegetarians who came after him. Ritson is seen as a pioneer for animal rights, meaning he was one of the first to speak up for animals.
In 1802, his book An Essay on Abstinence from Animal Food, as a Moral Duty was published. In this book, he argued that avoiding animal foods was good for both health and morals.
See also
- Ritson's Northern Garlands 1810
- Ritson's Bishopric Garland or Durham Minstrel 1792
- Ritson's Yorkshire Garland 1809
- Ritson's Northumberland Garland or Newcastle Nightingale 1809
- Ritson's North-Country Chorister 1809
