Alaric Alexander Watts
A Victorian journalist and poet whose ambitious literary projects repeatedly crashed into financial ruin, saved only by a friend's patronage.
1797–1864 (age 67)·British poet and journalist·Birthday: March 16
Biography
Alaric Alexander Watts navigated the turbulent literary marketplace of early 19th-century Britain with more ambition than business sense. A staunch conservative in his politics, he poured his energy into founding and editing newspapers and annuals, most notably the 'Literary Souvenir,' a popular gift book featuring poetry and engravings. Watts had an eye for talent, publishing early works by writers like Tennyson, but his ventures were chronically underfunded. His drive to create beautiful publications repeatedly outstripped his ability to turn a profit, leading to bankruptcy and debtors' prison. His story is a classic tale of artistic aspiration versus commercial reality. Ultimately, his career was rescued not by sales, but by friendship; a civil list pension secured by his ally, Prime Minister Lord Aberdeen, provided a modest safety net for his final years.
#1 When Alaric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1797
Alaric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1797Born
1802Started school
1810Became a teenager
1813Could drive
1815Could vote
1818Turned 21
1827Turned 30
1837Turned 40
1847Turned 50
1857Turned 60
1864Died at 67
President: Abraham Lincoln
Key Achievements
- Founded and edited the influential annual 'The Literary Souvenir' (1825-1835), a major publication in the gift book genre.
- Published early poetry by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, helping to launch the career of the future Poet Laureate.
- Edited several prominent newspapers, including the 'Manchester Courier' and the 'United Service Gazette'.
- Published a collection of his own poetry, 'Lyrics of the Heart', in 1850.
Did You Know?
He spent time in debtors' prison due to the financial failure of his publishing ventures.
His wife, Priscilla Maden Watts, was also a published poet and writer.
The pension he received from Lord Aberdeen was a significant political favor, granted despite Watts's financial mismanagement.
He is sometimes confused with the electrical engineer James Watt, but they are not related.
“A poet must be a merchant, though the muse scorns the ledger.”
