Celebrating Winthrop Mackworth Praed: English Writer, Politician, and Gardener

"Winthrop's home had a fine grove.
He had an orangery and beautiful grounds overlooking a harbor."

July 26, 1802

On this day, Winthrop Mackworth Praed, an English writer and politician, was born.

 

Winthrop wrote,

I remember, I remember how my childhood fleeted by.
The mirth of its December, and the warmth of its July.

 

 

Winthrop's home had a fine grove. He had an orangery and beautiful grounds overlooking a harbor.

Winthrop tragically died at 37 from tuberculosis.

 

Winthrop was very witty and is remembered for his humorous verse. It's fitting, then, that for many years, his fans loved to tell this little story about him:

A man went to a bookshop and asked,

"Have you, Browning?"

 

And the clerk replied,

"No, we can't sell him. People say they can't understand him."

 

Then the customer asked,

"Have you Praed?"

 

And the clerk said,

"Yes, we've prayed, and we still can't understand him."


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