George Longmore
George Longmore was a Canadian poet of South African descent, born in Quebec City in 1793. He joined the Royal Staff Corps in 1809 and participated in the Peninsular War, experiences that later influenced his poetry, particularly in his collection *The War of the Isles* published in 1826. After returning to Canada, Longmore became an officer while also pursuing a literary career, known for his long narrative poems. His notable works include *The Charivari* (1824) and *Tales of Chivalry and Romance* (1826), which features the heroic poem "Tecumthe." In 1824, he took on the role of surveyor general in Mauritius and eventually moved with his family to South Africa in 1834. Despite facing hardships and holding various odd jobs later in life, Longmore continued to write until his death in 1867. For many years, his poetry was often misattributed to others due to his use of pseudonyms and anonymous publications. It was only in the late 1970s that Longmore’s contributions were properly recognized, establishing him as an important figure in Canadian literature.
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George Longmore
Poet
- Born: 1793
- Birthplace: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Died: August 8, 1867
- Place of death: South Africa
Biography
George Longmore, a Canadian poet of South African heritage, was born in 1793 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In 1809, Longmore joined the Royal Staff Corps, the Canadian military. He was involved in the Peninsular War, and his wartime experiences would eventually appear in his poetry collection The War of the Isles (1826). When Longmore returned to Canada, he continued to serve as an officer in the military. He also became immersed in the literary world and became known for writing long poems.
While in Montreal he wrote his long poem The Charivari (1824), as well as a collection of poems titled Tales of Chivalry and Romance (1826); the latter book features his most famous work, the heroic poem “Tecumthe.” In 1824, Longmore accepted the position of surveyor general of the South African island of Mauritius; in 1834, Longmore and his family officially relocated to South Africa. While in South Africa, Longmore continued to write and publish poetry. He held a number of different jobs after falling on hard times in the mid- 1800’s, continuing to take odd jobs where he could until his death in 1867.
Specific information regarding Longmore’s life is difficult to come by, and for many years his works were often erroneously attributed to other writers. It is believed that Longmore was uncredited for his work because he used pseudonyms and often published anonymously. It was not until the late 1970’s that Longmore’s work was recognized as his own and that literary praise was given to the deceased poet. With credit being given where it is due, Longmore has come to be recognized as a rather important and influential literary figure from Canada.