Reuben Hallam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reuben Hallam
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Oil portrait by W. Lindley
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| Born | 1818 |
| Died | 1908 (aged 89–90) |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | |
Reuben Hallam (1818 – 1908) was a talented English person from Wadsley, a part of Sheffield, England. He was known by the nickname Wadsley Jack. Reuben was many things: a wood carver, a cutler (someone who makes knives and tools), a musician, and an author.
He wrote his stories in the special way people spoke in Sheffield, called the Sheffield dialect. Reuben is most famous for his book Wadsley Jack; or, the Humours and Adventures of a Travelling Cutler. This book tells the story of his own life and adventures.
His main book, Wadsley Jack, and its follow-up, Wadsley Jack's Married Life, first appeared in a newspaper. They were published bit by bit, like a series, in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph in 1865 and 1866. After that, they were printed as full books.
What Jobs Did Reuben Hallam Have?
Reuben Hallam had many different jobs throughout his life. We know this from official records called censuses, which count people and their jobs every ten years.
- In 1851, he was listed as a teacher who taught people how to sing.
- By 1861 and 1871, he was working as a cutler, making spring knives.
- In 1881, he was called an artist, and three of his children were also artists.
- By 1891, he was a weighman, which means he weighed things.
- In 1901, he was back to being a spring knife cutler.
Besides these jobs, Reuben also played the organ, gave speeches (he was an orator), and sang.
Reuben Hallam's Portraits
There are two known paintings of Reuben Hallam. One is an oil painting by an artist named W. Lindley. This painting is now kept by Museums Sheffield.
Another portrait of Reuben was painted by Willis Eadon. This painting was shown at an art exhibition in Sheffield in 1888. A newspaper reviewer from The Sheffield Daily Telegraph said the painting was "clever" and showed Reuben's "strong individuality," meaning it captured his unique personality well. Another newspaper called him "a local celebrity," showing he was well-known in the area.
The Wadsley Jack Pub
In Wadsley, the area where Reuben Hallam lived, there is a pub that was named in his honor. It used to be called The Star, but it was renamed The Wadsley Jack. This shows how much he was remembered and respected in his hometown.
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