George Walter Thornbury


George Walter Thornbury was an English author. He was the first biographer of J. M. W. Turner.

Early life

George Thornbury was born on 13 November 1828, the son of a London solicitor, reared by his aunt and educated by her husband, Reverend Barton Bouchier.

Career

A journalist by profession, he also wrote verse, novels, art criticism and popular historical and topographical sketches. He began his career in 1845 with contributions to Bristol Journal and wrote later mainly for the Athenaeum.
His first major work was Lays and legends of the New World. It followed a history of the Buccaneers, Monarchs of the Main,, Shakspeare's England during the reign of Elizabeth and Art and nature at home and abroad. His Old and New London: a Narrative of its History, its People, and its Places was first published in 2 volumes in 1872, and in an undated edition of 1878 in 6 volumes, the last four being by Edward Walford. Many of these works are available online in full text from the Internet Archive Digital Library.

Death

Thornbury died of overwork at Camberwell House Asylum, London, at the early age of 47, and was buried in Nunhead Cemetery. He was survived by a young wife and three young sons.

Works

Poetry