Charles Heath (1761 – 1 January 1831) was a printer and writer who became a leading

radical Radical (from Latin: ', root) may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics *Classical radicalism, the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and Latin America in the 19th century *Radical politics ...

Monmouth Monmouth ( or ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated on where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. The population in the 2011 census was 10,508, rising from 8 ...

. He was twice elected Mayor of Monmouth.

Biography

Heath was born in 1761 in Hurcott, near

Kidderminster Kidderminster is a market town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, south-west of Birmingham and north of Worcester, England, Worcester. Located north of the River Stour, Worcestershire, River Stour and east of the River Severn, in th ...

in Worcestershire, to a family who owned paper mills in the area. He went to school in

Hartlebury Hartlebury is a village and civil parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England. It is south of Kidderminster. The village had a population of 2,549 in the 2001 Census. The village is green-buffered from surrounding villages exc ...

before training as a printer in

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...

. He set out on his own in 1791, and established a printing business in the

county town In Great Britain and Ireland, a county town is usually the location of administrative or judicial functions within a county, and the place where public representatives are elected to parliament. Following the establishment of county councils in ...

. This was the second

printing press A printing press is a mechanical device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a printing, print medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby transferring the ink. It marked a dramatic improvement on earlier printing methods in whi ...

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...

, following one set up in

Pontypool Pontypool ( ) is a town and the administrative centre of the county borough of Torfaen, within the Historic counties of Wales, historic boundaries of Monmouthshire (historic), Monmouthshire in South Wales. , it has a population of 29,062. Locat ...

in 1740. Heath wrote and published a number of books on

antiquarian An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic si ...

subjects, and the topography and sights of the

Wye Valley The Wye Valley () is a valley in Wales and England. The River Wye () is the Rivers of Great Britain#Longest rivers in the United Kingdom, fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The upper part of the valley is in the Cambrian Mountains an ...

, which at the time was a popular location for tours by boat and carriage. He was an acquaintance of

Romantic poet Romantic poetry is the poetry of the Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. It involved a reaction against prevailing Neoclassical ideas of the 18th c ...

Samuel Taylor Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge ( ; 21 October 177225 July 1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets with his friend William Wordsworth ...

, and in 1801 presented a copy of his ''Excursion down the Wye'' to Viscount Nelson and

Emma Hamilton Dame Emma Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; 26 April 176515 January 1815), known upon moving to London as Emma Hart, and upon marriage as Lady Hamilton, was an English maid, model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becom ...

when they visited the town. All his topographical books went through several editions. His publications included: * 1793: ''A Descriptive Account of Piercefield and

Chepstow Chepstow () is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the western end of the ...

'' * 1799: ''The Excursion down the Wye, from Ross to Monmouth: including ... memoirs and anecdotes of the life of

John Kyrle John Kyrle (22 May 1637 – 7 November 1724), known as "the Man of Ross", was an England, English philanthropist, remembered for his time in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. Education and legal background Born in the parish of Dymock, Glouceste ...

...'' * 1799: ''An Account of the Presentation of Colours to the Monmouth Volunteers....'' * 1802: ''The Speeches of... Viscount Nelson of the Nile....'' * 1804: ''Historical and descriptive accounts of the ancient and present state of the town of

: including a variety of particulars deserving the stranger's notice, relating to the borough and its neighbourhood'' * 1806: ''

: Historical and descriptive accounts of the ancient and present state of

Tintern Abbey Tintern Abbey ( ) is a ruined medieval abbey situated adjacent to the village of Tintern in Monmouthshire, on the Welsh bank of the River Wye, which at this location forms the border between Monmouthshire in Wales and Gloucestershire in England. ...

....'' * 1808: ''Monmouthshire: Historical and descriptive accounts of the ancient and present state of Ragland Castle...'' * 1809: ''Descriptive account of

the Kymin The Kymin (), is a hill overlooking Monmouth, in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located approximately one mile east of Monmouth, on the eastern side of the River Wye and adjacent to the border with the Forest of Dean and England. The summit of the ...

summer house: including the whole of the objects seen from the different windows....''Google Books
''Descriptive account of the Kymin summer house...''
/ref> Heath came to prominence in 1813 when he was amongst the leaders of a popular movement against the

Dukes of Beaufort Duke of Beaufort ( ) is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, legitimised son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Du ...

who controlled the town and the election for "

Monmouth Boroughs Monmouth Boroughs (also known as the Monmouth District of Boroughs) was a parliamentary constituency consisting of several towns in Monmouthshire. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliaments of England, ...

". This constituency included not only Monmouth but also Newport and

Usk Usk () is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, northeast of Newport. It is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. Usk Castle, above the town, overlooks the ancient cr ...

. They had whittled the electorate down from over 2,000 a hundred years before to one of about 250 by 1813. At that election Henry Somerset, the Marquis of Worcester was elected and Heath was moved to action. The election of Henry Somerset was the third consecutive M.P. from the Somerset family. Heath, together with Hezekiah Swift, a local timber merchant, employed Henry Brougham as counsel and Herbert Harris as attorney and they challenged the result of the election. He was elected Mayor of Monmouth of his adopted town in 1819 and 1821. The mayor who followed him in 1822 was his 1813 partner, Hezekiah Swift. Heath died on

New Year's Day In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year, January 1, 1 January. Most solar calendars, such as the Gregorian and Julian calendars, begin the year regularly at or near the December solstice, northern winter ...

in 1831 aged 69 although some report his death as 30 December 1830. A monument was not placed on his grave until 25 years later, but that memorial outside St Mary's Priory Church is now a

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heath, Charles 1761 births 1831 deaths People from Wychavon (district) English non-fiction writers Date of birth unknown Mayors of Monmouth English male non-fiction writers