Sir Theodore Martin (16 September 1816 – 18 August 1909) was a Scottish poet, biographer, and translator.

Biography

Thomas Duncan (1807-1845) - Sir Theodore Martin (1816–1909), Lawyer and Writer - PG 694 - National Galleries of Scotland

Martin was the son of James Martin, a solicitor in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

, where Theodore was born and educated at the Royal High School and

University A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...

. He practised as a solicitor in Edinburgh 1840–45, after which he went to London and became head of the firm of Martin and Leslie,

parliamentary agent Parliamentary agents are solicitors who are licensed (together with the firms they belong to) by the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom to draft, promote or oppose private bills. Private bills are a specific class of legislation promoted ...

s. His first contribution to literature was the humorous '' Bon Gaultier Ballads'', written along with W.E. Aytoun, which remained popular for a long time; originally contributed to a magazine, they appeared in book form in 1845. TheodoreMartinBrompton01

Martin's translations include

Dante Dante Alighieri (; – 14 September 1321), probably baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri and often referred to as Dante (, ), was an Italian people, Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', origin ...

's ''Vita Nuova'', Oehlenschläger's ''

Correggio Antonio Allegri da Correggio (August 1489 – 5 March 1534), usually known as just Correggio (, also , , ), was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the High Italian Renaissance, who was responsible for some of the most vigorous and sens ...

'' and '' Aladdin'', Heinrich Heine's ''

Poems and Ballads ''Poems and Ballads, First Series'' is the first collection of poems by Algernon Charles Swinburne, published in 1866. The book was instantly popular, and equally controversial. Swinburne wrote about many taboo topics, such as lesbianism, sado-ma ...

'', Friedrich Schiller's '' Wilhelm Tell'', and Hertz's ''

King René's Daughter ''Kong Renés Datter'' (''King René’s Daughter'') is a Danish verse drama written in 1845 by Henrik Hertz. It is a fictional account of the early life of Yolande of Lorraine, daughter of René of Anjou, in which she is depicted as a beautif ...

''.Martin, Theodore. ''King René's daughter: a Danish lyrical drama'', W. Crosby and H.P. Nichols, 1850. He also published a complete translation of Horace with a ''Life'', and one of

Catullus Gaius Valerius Catullus (; 84 - 54 BCE), often referred to simply as Catullus (, ), was a Latin poet of the late Roman Republic who wrote chiefly in the neoteric style of poetry, focusing on personal life rather than classical heroes. His ...

. He is probably best known for his '' Life of the Prince Consort'' (1874–80), the writing of which was entrusted to him by

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

, a work which won him her lifelong friendship. He also wrote ''Lives'' of Professor Aytoun and Lord Lyndhurst. In 1851 he married

Helena Faucit Helena Saville Faucit, Lady Martin (11 October 1817 – 31 October 1898) was an English actress. Early life Born in London, she was the daughter of actors John Saville Faucit and Harriet Elizabeth Savill. Her parents separated when she was a ...

, a well-known actress, and author of studies on ''

Shakespeare's Female Characters William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

'', whose ''Life'' he published in 1901. The couple lived for some time at Bryntysilio which he bought in 1861, near

Llangollen Llangollen () is a town and community, situated on the River Dee, in Denbighshire, Wales. Its riverside location forms the edge of the Berwyn range, and the Dee Valley section of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Bea ...

, where in 1889 they were visited by the queen during her progress in Wales. Martin kept up his intellectual activity into old age, published in 1905 a translation of Leopardi's poems, and ''

Monographs A monograph is a specialist work of writing (in contrast to reference works) or exhibition on a single subject or an aspect of a subject, often by a single author or artist, and usually on a scholarly subject. In library cataloging, ''monograp ...

'' (1906). He was Lord Rector of St. Andrews 1881, LL.D. of Edinburgh 1875, and Knight Commander of the

Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved Bathing#Medieval ...

1880. He died in 1909 and is buried in

Brompton Cemetery Brompton Cemetery (originally the West of London and Westminster Cemetery) is a London cemetery, managed by The Royal Parks, in West Brompton in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries. Establ ...

, London.

References

Sources

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External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Theodore 1816 births 1909 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh People educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh Writers from Edinburgh Scottish poets Scottish biographers Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Burials at Brompton Cemetery Rectors of the University of St Andrews 19th-century poets