George Crabbe
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [1]
an English poet and divine, was born at Aldborough, Suffolk, December 24, 1754. When fourteen years of age, being tolerably grounded in mathematics and classics, he was apprenticed to a surgeon near Bury St. Edmunds, but had no liking for the profession, and ultimately proceeded to London to make a trial of literature. For a time he was very unfortunate. At last, when threatened with arrest for debt, he made his case known to Edmund Burke, who received him in a very kindly manner, brought him into his family, introduced him to Fox, Reynolds, Johnson, and other distinguished men, and gave him his criticism and advice concerning the poem of The Library, which was published in 1781 (2d ed. 1783), and was favorably noticed. By the assistance of Burke he was enabled to prepare himself for admission to holy orders. In 1782 he was ordained curate of his native place, and shortly after appointed chaplain to the duke of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle. In 1785 he was presented to two small livings in Dorsetshire, in 1789 exchanged them for others in the vale of Belvoir, and in 1813 was preferred to the rectory of Trowbridge, which he held until his death, February 8, 1832. Mr. Crabbe, in addition to the work above mentioned, published, The Village (1783): — The Newspaper (1785): — The Parish Register (1807): — The Borough (1810): — Tales in Verse (1812): — Tales of the Hall (1819). See The North American Review, 1834, page 135; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.; Rose, Genesis Biog. Dict. s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia [2]
An English poet, born at Aldborough, in Suffolk; began life as apprentice to an apothecary with a view to the practice of medicine, but having poetic tastes, he gave up medicine for literature, and started for London with a capital of three pounds; his first productions in this line not meeting with acceptance, he was plunged in want; appealing in vain for assistance in his distress, he fell in with Burke, who liberally helped him and procured him high patronage, under which he took orders and obtained the living of Trowbridge, which he held for life, and he was now in circumstances to pursue his bent; his principal poems are "The Library," "The Village," "The Parish Register," "The Borough," and the "Tales of the Hall," all, particularly the earlier ones, instinct with interest in the lives of the poor, "the sacrifices, temptations, loves, and crimes of humble life," described with the most "unrelenting" realism; the author in Byron's esteem, "though Nature's sternest painter, yet the best" (1754-1832).
