Levi Adams
Levi Adams was a Canadian poet and writer born on March 16, 1802, in Canada, who spent part of his early life in the Quebec region before moving to Montreal. He studied law, gaining admission to the Bar in 1827, and married American Elizabeth Wright three years later. Adams is known for his literary contributions, including his 1825 work "Jean Baptiste: A Poetic Olio," which explores themes of unrequited love through the lens of a bachelor’s emotional journey. His poetry and stories, such as "The Young Lieutenant: A Tale" and "The Wedding," received recognition in Canadian magazines, notable for his willingness to sign his name publicly—uncommon among his contemporaries. Despite this, scholars often regard Adams as more of a hobbyist than a serious writer. His work fell into relative obscurity after his untimely death from cholera in 1832, alongside the passing of his wife. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Adams was reintroduced to the literary community by critic Carl F. Klinck, although some of the credit for works attributed to him was later reassigned to poet George Longmore.
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Levi Adams
Poet
- Born: March 17, 1802
- Birthplace: Canada
- Died: June 21, 1932
- Place of death: Canada
Biography
Levi Adams was born March 16, 1802, in Canada. He spent some of his early life living in the Quebec region, and he later relocated to the city of Montreal. Adams worked with the Office of Bruneau and was later admitted to the Bar in 1827. Three years later, he married Elizabeth Wright, an American. In 1832, Adams fell ill with cholera and died. His wife Elizabeth also died.
While Adams lived a short life, he managed to publish Jean Baptiste a Poetic Olio, in Two Cantos in 1825. In the poetic work, a dejected bachelor mourns his unrequited love, while attempting to move on and settle with another woman. The work was well received and earned some critical praise. Adams also published two stories, “The Young Lieutenant: A Tale” and “The Wedding,” also well received, in Canadian magazines. Unlike many Canadian writers of the time, who wrote anonymously, Adams was not hesitant to sign his name to his works. However, while his writings have found some critical acclaim and historical significance, many scholars consider Adams more of a hobbyist than a writer.
After his death, Adams’s work went generally unnoticed until the 1960’s. At that time, Carl F. Klinck published an article reintroducing Adams into the literary world. Unfortunately, the article also gave Adams credit for writing numerous works which have since been proven to be penned by Canadian poet George Longmore.