Angus Reach
Angus Reach was a prominent journalist and novelist born in 1821 in Inverness, Scotland. He was educated at Inverness Royal Academy and the University of Edinburgh, where he began his writing career by contributing to his father's newspaper, the Inverness Courier. In 1841, he moved to London and secured a position at the Morning Chronicle, where he gained recognition for his distinctive writing style. Reach played a significant role in an investigative reporting team that examined the lives of the working class across various industrial cities in the UK, which bolstered his reputation as a leading journalist of his time. In addition to serious journalism, he contributed humorous essays to Punch Magazine and wrote several sensational novels, including "Clement Lorimer." Despite facing health challenges in his late twenties, Reach continued to work vigorously until his passing on November 25, 1856. His legacy remains as a key figure in 19th-century journalism and literature.
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Subject Terms
Angus Reach
Journalist and writer
- Born: January 23, 1821
- Birthplace: Inverness, Scotland
- Died: November 25, 1856
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
Angus Reach was born in 1821in Inverness, Scotland, the son of a solicitor and newspaper owner. He was educated at Inverness Royal Academy and the University of Edinburgh. During his university years, Reach began to write for his father’s newspaper, the Inverness Courier.
Reach moved to London in 1841, where he found a job at the Morning Chronicle, a post previously held by Charles Dickens. He quickly made name for himself with his unique style. In 1849, the editor of the Morning Chronicle assigned a team of investigative reporters, including Reach and Shirley Brooks, to look into the lives of the working class in the United Kingdom. Reach interviewed laborers in the manufacturing districts of Manchester, Oldham, Leeds, and other cities. The publication of the investigation in the Morning Chronicle contributed to Reach’s reputation as one of England’s premier journalists. Following the investigative report, Reach began to write for a number of newspapers and journals, including humorous essays for Punch Magazine.
Reach’s health began to decline while he was in his late twenties. Friends attributed his sickness to overwork, but Reach refused to slow down. In his final years he produced a number of sensational novels, including Clement Lorimer, published in 1849, which dealt with mysterious secrets in the past of most of the main characters. Brooks supported Reach during the last few months of his life. Reach died on November 25, 1856.