Austin DobsonHenry Austin Dobson, commonly known as Austin Dobson, was an English poet, essayist, and biographer, born on January 18, 1840, in Plymouth. The eldest son of a French-descended civil engineer, he spent part of his early life in Holyhead and was educaed in both England and Strasbourg. Although initially intending to follow in his father's footsteps as an engineer, Dobson eventually pursued a career at the Board of Trade, where he rose to the position of principal in the harbour department before retiring in 1901. Alongside his administrative work, he cultivated a strong literary presence. His writing career began around 1864 and gained momentum with the launch of St Paul's magazine in 1868, where many of his best early poems were published. Known for his refined and mature verse, Dobson was instrumental in reviving interest in 18th-century English culture and literature, often writing in forms such as the ballade and rondeau. He married Frances Mary Beardmore in 1868 and lived in Ealing, where he died on September 2, 1921. He is buried in Westminster Cemetery, Hanwell. Read More Read Less