Thomas Osbert Mordaunt facts for kids

Thomas Osbert Mordaunt (born 1730, died 1809) was a British soldier and a talented poet. He is most famous for his poem called "The Call".

Who Was Thomas Mordaunt?

His Family and Early Life

Thomas Mordaunt came from a family of soldiers. His father, Charles Mordaunt, was also in the army. His grandfather, Lewis Mordaunt, was a high-ranking officer. Lewis was also the younger brother of Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough. The Earl of Peterborough was an important person in the government.

A Military Career

Thomas Mordaunt joined the army when he was young. On January 27, 1753, he became an ensign and lieutenant. He served in the 2nd Regiment of Foot Guards. Later, on December 25, 1755, he was promoted to captain-lieutenant. This was in the 10th Regiment of Dragoons. He eventually reached the high rank of major general.

"The Call": His Famous Poem

Mordaunt is best remembered for his well-known poem, "The Call". He wrote this poem during the Seven Years' War. This war took place between 1756 and 1763. The poem has a very famous part that many people still quote:

"Sound, sound the clarion, fill the fife!

Throughout the sensual world proclaim,

One crowded hour of glorious life

Is worth an age without a name."

The Poem's Legacy

For many years, people thought the famous writer Sir Walter Scott wrote "The Call". However, this was a mistake. Scott had only quoted a part of the poem in his novel Old Mortality. He used it at the start of Chapter 34.

The poem's words have inspired others. For example, the book One Crowded Hour by Tim Bowden takes its title from Mordaunt's poem. This book is about an Australian cameraman named Neil Davis. Also, Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a short story called One Crowded Hour. He used the same phrase in an interesting way.