Richard Lower (poet) facts for kids
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Richard Lower (1782–1865) was an English poet who wrote in a special kind of local language called dialect. He was known for his funny and thoughtful poems that often shared stories about everyday life in Sussex, England.
Contents
The Early Life of Richard Lower
Richard Lower was born in a town called Alfriston, in Sussex, England, on September 19, 1782. His father, John Lower, owned a barge named The Good Intent. John was famous for being the first person to sail a boat all the way up the small river Cuckmere from the sea to a place called Longbridge.
Richard found that he wasn't strong enough to follow in his father's footsteps and work on the river. Instead, he got a good education. Around 1803, he opened a school in the parish of Chiddingly. He lived there for most of his life.
Richard's Many Jobs
Besides being a teacher, Richard also worked as a land surveyor. This meant he measured and mapped land. He was also involved in many other important jobs for his local community. From a young age, Richard loved to write poems and rhymes, even though his mother wasn't always happy about it!
He passed away on September 29, 1865. He was staying with his third son, Joseph Richard Lower, in Tonbridge, Kent, at the time.
Richard Lower's Famous Works
Richard Lower wrote several popular books of poetry. His most famous work is Tom Cladpole's Jurney to Lunnon. This book was told by a character named Tom Cladpole himself. It was written in a fun, simple style using the Sussex dialect by "his Uncle Tim" (which was Richard Lower).
Popular Poems and Their Messages
Tom Cladpole's Jurney to Lunnon was first printed in 1830 as a small, inexpensive book. Over 20,000 copies were sold! Many of these were bought by people living in small cottages in East Sussex. Even though the poems sometimes made light fun of them, people loved reading it.
In 1844, he published another book called Jan Cladpole's Trip to Merricur. This book was also written in rhyme by "his Father, Tim Cladpole." A very important part of this book was its strong message against slavery.
Later in 1862, Richard Lower released a collection of his writings called Stray Leaves from an Old Tree. This book featured selections from his poems and stories written over many years.
Richard Lower's Family
Richard Lower married Mary Oxley in 1803. They had seven children together. Their fourth child, Mark Antony Lower, became a well-known expert in old objects and history.
