William Stanley Roscoe facts for kids
William Stanley Roscoe (born in 1782 – died on October 31, 1843) was an English poet and banker. He was also an abolitionist, meaning he worked to end slavery.
Early Life and Career
William Stanley Roscoe was born in Liverpool, England, in 1782. His father was William Roscoe, and his mother was Jane Griffies. William Stanley Roscoe went to Peterhouse, Cambridge, for his education.
After finishing school, he became a partner in his father's bank. Later in his life, he worked as a serjeant-at-mace for a court in Liverpool. He passed away in Liverpool on October 31, 1843. He was the father of William Caldwell Roscoe and Francis James Roscoe.
His Writings and Anti-Slavery Poems
William Stanley Roscoe knew a lot about Italian literature. In 1834, he published a book called Poems. This book was praised by a magazine called Blackwood's Magazine.
While some people thought his poems were ordinary, later critics found some of his anti-slavery poems to be very good. These poems were about fighting against slavery.
Some important anti-slavery poems in his book include:
- "Ode to May, Written in 1807, on the Abolition of the African Slave Trade": This poem celebrated the end of the slave trade in 1807.
- "On the Last Regiment of Polish Patriots Being Ordered by the French Government to Serve in the Island of St. Domingo": This poem was about the Haitian Revolution, where enslaved people fought for their freedom.
- "The Ethiop": This poem imagined a war of freedom that ended slavery in the Caribbean. It featured an African hero, similar to Toussaint Louverture, who led the fight. This poem also had some exciting and mysterious "Gothic" themes.
One of Roscoe's poems, "To Spring: On the Banks of the Cam," was chosen by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch to be in his 1912 book, Oxford Book of Victorian Verse.
