John Askham (1825–1894) was an English working class poet who published five volumes of poetry.
Askham was born at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, on 25 July 1825. His father, John Askham, a native of Raunds in Northamptonshire, was a shoemaker, and his mother a native of Kimbolton. John Askham the younger was the youngest of seven children, and attended the Wellingborough Free School for about one year. He was twice married; he and his first wife (born Bonham) had three daughters. [1]
Before Askham reached age ten, his family put him to work in the shoemaking trade. After working a while for another shoemaker, he set up his own business. He later became the librarian of the newly formed Literary Institute at Wellingborough. In 1871, Askham was elected a member of the first town school board, and in 1874 he became school attendance officer and sanitary inspector of the local board of health. [1]
Educating himself, Askham started writing poetry. [1] He composed his first verses at the age 25, prompted by a Chartist workmate, though he himself was not so political; and later contributed poems to local newspapers. George James De Wilde, editor of the Northampton Mercury, befriended him and gave him work as a correspondent. [2]
Askham was especially fond of the sonnet form. Unlike John Clare (1793-1864), an early influence, he did not live a country life. [1] [2]
In his later years, Askham was disabled by paralysis. He died at Clare Cottage, Wellingborough, on 28 October 1894, and was buried on 1 November in Wellingborough cemetery. He was survived by his second daughter. [1]
Askham published four volumes by subscription, and through one of his subscribers, George Ward Hunt, he received a grant of £50 from the Queen's Bounty Fund. [1] His works were:
John Askham (1825–1894) was an English working class poet who published five volumes of poetry.
Askham was born at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, on 25 July 1825. His father, John Askham, a native of Raunds in Northamptonshire, was a shoemaker, and his mother a native of Kimbolton. John Askham the younger was the youngest of seven children, and attended the Wellingborough Free School for about one year. He was twice married; he and his first wife (born Bonham) had three daughters. [1]
Before Askham reached age ten, his family put him to work in the shoemaking trade. After working a while for another shoemaker, he set up his own business. He later became the librarian of the newly formed Literary Institute at Wellingborough. In 1871, Askham was elected a member of the first town school board, and in 1874 he became school attendance officer and sanitary inspector of the local board of health. [1]
Educating himself, Askham started writing poetry. [1] He composed his first verses at the age 25, prompted by a Chartist workmate, though he himself was not so political; and later contributed poems to local newspapers. George James De Wilde, editor of the Northampton Mercury, befriended him and gave him work as a correspondent. [2]
Askham was especially fond of the sonnet form. Unlike John Clare (1793-1864), an early influence, he did not live a country life. [1] [2]
In his later years, Askham was disabled by paralysis. He died at Clare Cottage, Wellingborough, on 28 October 1894, and was buried on 1 November in Wellingborough cemetery. He was survived by his second daughter. [1]
Askham published four volumes by subscription, and through one of his subscribers, George Ward Hunt, he received a grant of £50 from the Queen's Bounty Fund. [1] His works were: