Name William Bennett Role Poet | Died 1895 | |
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The Seasons by William Cox Bennett
William Cox Bennett (1820–1895) was an English poet. He published numerous works, often including a self-written preface. One of his better-known poems is that of "Baby May".
Contents
Life
He was born at Greenwich on 14 October 1820, was the younger son of John Bennett, a watchmaker of that place. He was educated at Greenwich in the school of William Collier Smithers, but when he was nine he was compelled, by the death of his father, to remain at home to assist his mother in business. Bennett took much interest in the affairs of his native borough, and succeeded in effecting several useful reforms. In 1868, he proposed Gladstone to the liberals of the borough as their candidate, and assisted to secure his return by very strenuous exertions. He was a member of the London council of the National Education League. In 1869 and 1870, he was employed on the staff of the Weekly Dispatch as a leader writer and art critic, and subsequently he contributed to the London Figaro.
He died on 4 March 1895 at his residence at Eliot Cottages, Blackheath, and was buried at Nunhead cemetery on 8 March.
Works
Bennett was well known as a writer of songs. His chief works are:
His 'Songs for Sailors' were set to music in 1878 by John Liptrot Hatton. A collective edition of his poems appeared in 1862 in Routledge's British Poets.