Bryan Waller Procter
Bryan Waller Procter (1787-1874) was an English poet and biographer known for his contributions to literature during the 19th century. Born in Yorkshire, he received a classical education at Harrow School and initially embarked on a legal career, becoming a partner in a London law firm. Procter engaged in a vibrant social life, mingling with notable actors and literary figures while publishing poetry in various magazines. His personal life saw him marry Anne Benson Skepper in 1824, with whom he had six children, including the poet Adelaide Anne Procter. In 1830, he was admitted to the bar and later appointed as a metropolitan commissioner of lunacy, a role that allowed him to balance his legal obligations with his literary pursuits. Procter's biographies of figures like actor Edmund Kean and poet Charles Lamb gained recognition, with the former becoming a significant resource for later biographers. While he is primarily remembered for his biographical works, his literary legacy also reflects his connections with more renowned contemporaries.
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Subject Terms
Bryan Waller Procter
Poet
- Born: November 21, 1787
- Birthplace: Yorkshire, England
- Died: October 4, 1874
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
Bryan Waller Procter was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1787. His father was a businessman who inherited a bequest that permitted him to send Procter to boarding school, and then to Harrow, where he received an excellent grounding in the classics. After graduating from Harrow, Procter clerked for a solicitor in Calne, where he began to develop his literary sensibilities. From 1812 to 1819, Procter was a partner in a London law firm and lived the life of a dandy, devoting himself to hunting, boxing, entertaining, and the theater, where he made the acquaintance of many celebrated actors. During this period Procter also began publishing some of his poetry in magazines. In 1820, he was introduced to Anne Benson Skepper, the daughter of a prominent lawyer, and the two became engaged. Their engagement was prolonged by illness and financial insecurity, but in 1824 the couple finally married. Eventually, they would have six children together, including the future poet Adelaide Anne Procter.
Concerned about supporting his growing family, Procter pursued his legal career and was admitted to the bar in 1830. The following year he received a renewable appointment as a metropolitan commissioner of lunacy. The position afforded him extra income and required little extra work, allowing Procter to continue his literary interests, which now included biography. His lives of the actorEdmund Kean and the poet Charles Lamb were generally well received and the former, in particular, has served as a standard resource for subsequent biographers. Procter’s appointment to the Lunacy Commission was eventually made permanent and he remained active in his position there even after he retired. He also continued to publish poems and reviews, although at a far slower rate. Today he is remembered for his biographies, but more for his acquaintance with those whose lights shone more brightly than his own.