“Novelist, poet, and official.” That’s how Thomas Love Peacock is often described. Here, a blue plaque marks a place where Thomas Love Peacock lived. Thomas Love Peacock was born in Weymouth Dorset in 1785. His father was Samuel Peacock a glass merchant. His mother was Sarah Love. Thomas Love Peacock lived here from 1823 to 1866.
The plaque commemorates Thomas Love Peacock. Thomas Love Peacock was more than just a novelist. He was a poet and a sharp-witted satirist. His satirical novels made him well known. Each novel had characters discussing philosophical opinions.
Thomas Love Peacock enjoyed a close friendship with Percy Bysshe Shelley. They significantly influenced each other’s work. Thomas Love Peacock accompanied Shelley and his first wife Harriet to Edinburgh in the winter of 1813. Thomas Love Peacock was fond of Harriet. Later in his life Thomas Love Peacock defended her reputation. Thomas Love Peacock protected her from slander.
After Shelley left Harriet Thomas Love Peacock visited Shelley and Mary Godwin almost daily. That occurred throughout the winter of 1814-1815. Thomas Love Peacock shared their voyage to the source of the Thames in 1815. Charles Clairmont noted Thomas Love Peacock seemed idly inclined. He devoted himself to the beauties of the season.
Thomas Love Peacock wrote Headlong Hall in 1815. With this work Thomas Love Peacock found his literary voice. He published Melincourt in 1817. He published Nightmare Abbey in 1818.
In 1819, Thomas Love Peacock joined the East India Company. His test papers earned the commendation. The company found “Nothing superfluous and nothing wanting”. Thomas Love Peacock studied Indian affairs. He wrote “It is possible to be of great service, not only to the Company, but to the millions under their dominion.”
Thomas Love Peacock married Jane Gryffydh in 1820. Shelley called Jane “the milk-white Snowdonian Antelope.” Thomas Love Peacock and Jane had four children. Thomas Love Peacock wrote The Four Ages of Poetry in 1820. This essay argued poetry’s relevance was ending due to science. This provoked Shelley’s Defence of Poetry.
The India House delayed the completion of Maid Marian until 1822. In 1823, Thomas Love Peacock acquired a country residence. It was at Lower Halliford near Shepperton Middlesex. He constructed it out of two old cottages. He could gratify his love of the Thames there.
Thomas Love Peacock began to devote attention to steam navigation in 1829. Thomas Love Peacock published The Misfortunes of Elphin in 1829. He published Crotchet Castle in 1831.
Thomas Love Peacock was appointed Chief Examiner of Indian Correspondence in 1836. In 1837, Headlong Hall, Nightmare Abbey, Maid Marian, and Crotchet Castle appeared together. They formed volume 57 of Bentley’s Standard Novels.
Thomas Love Peacock retired from the India House in 1856. He spent his retirement among his books and garden. He enjoyed the River Thames. Thomas Love Peacock published Gryll Grange in 1860. Thomas Love Peacock died in 1866. He sustained injuries in a fire. He was attempting to save his library. He was buried in Shepperton. Thomas Love Peacock was called the “Laughing Philosopher”. He was remembered as a kind friendly man. He loved to share his enjoyment of life. He was self-indulgent but not selfish. Remember Thomas Love Peacock a true master of wit and words.