Peter Bayley (poet) facts for kids

Peter Bayley (1778–1823)

Peter Bayley (born in 1778 and passed away in 1823) was an English writer and poet. He wrote many poems and plays during his lifetime.

Peter Bayley's Life Story

Peter Bayley was born in 1778. His father, also named Peter Bayley, was a solicitor in Nantwich. A solicitor is a type of lawyer who gives legal advice. In 1790, when he was about 12 years old, Peter Bayley started attending Rugby School. Later, in 1796, he went to Merton College, Oxford, a famous university. However, he did not finish his degree there.

Becoming a Writer

Peter Bayley trained to become a lawyer, but he wasn't very interested in that job. He loved music and plays much more. Because of his financial struggles, he decided to focus on writing instead of law. He became the editor of a weekly magazine called the Museum. This was a big step for him into the world of literature. Peter Bayley passed away suddenly on January 25, 1823, while on his way to the opera.

Peter Bayley's Published Works

Peter Bayley published his first book of poems in 1803. He also wrote poems for different magazines and newspapers. Early in his career, he printed some parts of a long poem about the conquest of Wales. This epic poem was published after he died, in 1824, and was called 'Idwal'.

Other Creative Projects

In 1820, Peter Bayley used a pen name, Giorgione di Castel Chiuso. Under this name, he published a book of poems called Sketches from St George's-in-the-Fields. These poems were very clever and described different parts of London life. They are interesting today because they show us what London was like back then. He released a second series of these poems in 1821.

After Peter Bayley's death, another book of his Poetry was published in 1824. Also, a play he wrote called Orestes was performed at Covent Garden in 1825. A famous actor named Charles Kemble played the main character in Orestes, and it was one of his most successful roles.