Gilbert Abbott à Beckett

:For other things named Beckett, see Beckett (disambiguation)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (1811 – 1856) was an English comic writer.

Related Topics:
1811 - 1856 - English

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was born in London, the son of a lawyer, and belonged to a family claiming descent from Thomas à Becket. He was educated at Westminster School and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1841.

Related Topics:
London - Thomas à Becket - Westminster School - Gray's Inn - 1841

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He edited Figaro in London, and was one of the original staff of Punch and a contributor until his death. He was an active journalist on The Times and The Morning Herald, contributed a series of light articles to The Illustrated London News, conducted in 1846 The Almanack of the Month and found time to produce some fifty or sixty plays, among them dramatized versions of Charles Dickens' shorter stories in collaboration with Mark Lemon. He is perhaps best known as the author of Comic History of England, Comic History of Rome, Comic Blackstone, etc.

Related Topics:
Punch - The Times - The Morning Herald - The Illustrated London News - 1846 - Charles Dickens - Mark Lemon - Comic History of England - Comic History of Rome - Comic Blackstone

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As poor-law commissioner he presented a valuable report to the home secretary regarding scandals in connection with the Andover Union, and in 1849 he became a metropolitan police magistrate. He died in Boulogne, France, of typhoid.

Related Topics:
Andover Union - 1849 - Boulogne - France - Typhoid

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His elder brother, Sir William à Beckett (1806 – 1869), became chief justice of Victoria, Australia. He was the father of two other Victorian writers, Gilbert Arthur a Beckett and Arthur William a Beckett.

Related Topics:
William à Beckett - 1806 - 1869 - Victoria - Australia - Gilbert Arthur a Beckett - Arthur William a Beckett

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~