Jeffrey Francis
Jeffrey Francis, born in 1773 in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a prominent figure in both law and literature. He studied at Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Queen's College, Oxford, before pursuing a legal career. However, his literary talents flourished, leading him to co-found the influential **Edinburgh Review** in 1802, where he served as editor and published numerous critical essays, shaping the landscape of literary discourse in Britain. Known for his confrontational style, Francis was critical of several poets, notably William Wordsworth, and his sharp critiques garnered both respect and controversy.
Francis's personal life was marked by tragedy and change; he married his first cousin, Catherine Wilson, in 1801, but her death four years later deeply affected him. In 1813, he married Charlotte Wilkes, a relative of notable politician John Wilkes. Transitioning from literature to politics, Francis became actively involved in public service, eventually serving as the Lord Advocate of Scotland and securing a seat in the House of Commons, although he resigned in 1834 to become a judge. His contributions to literature continued until his death in 1850, leaving a legacy that intertwines the fields of law, politics, and literary criticism.
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Jeffrey Francis
- Born: October 23, 1773
- Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Died: January 26, 1850
Biography
Lord Jeffrey Francis was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1773. He studied in Glasgow and Edinburgh and at Queen’s College, Oxford. He pursued a career in law but found that he was equally interested in the literary arts. He contributed several articles to the Monthly Review during the late 1790’s.
Francis was the founder and editor of the Edinburgh Review, which he started in 1802 with friends Sydney Smith, Henry Brougham, and Francis Horner. He published many of his critical essays within the pages of the Edinburgh Review, and it became one of the most influential journals in Britain. He had a penchant for confrontational political discourse and excoriating literary criticism (he was particularly hard on the poetry of Wordsworth). In 1806, Thomas Moore challenged him to a duel, which ended up being stopped by the police. Francis married his first cousin, Catherine Wilson, in 1801. She died four years later, and Francis was devastated by the loss. He married American Charlotte Wilkes, niece of the radical politician John Wilkes, in 1813.
Francis gave up his editing position at the Edinburgh Review in 1829 when he was elected dean of the Faculty of Advocates. He became more actively involved in politics, although he still contributed articles to the Review throughout the 1830’s. In December 1830, he gained a seat in the House of Commons after becoming Lord Advocate of Scotland. He was elected to Parliament as the member for Edinburgh, but he resigned his seat to become a judge in 1834. He persisted in his literary pursuits until his death from a chronic illness in early 1850.