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Southey, Robert (1774-1843)
Born in Bristol, the son of a linen draper, Southey was educated at Westminster School, London. In 1795 Southey met William Wordsworth, the same year that he married Edith Flicker, the older sister of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's wife, Sara. In 1803 Southey moved to Keswick where his portrait was painted in 1804 in Greta Hall. He lived there from 1809, after Coleridge had moved out. Along with Wordsworth and Coleridge, Southey was known as one of the ‘The Lake Poets’. In 1813 Southey was appointed Poet Laureate after Sir Walter Scott refused the post. He is best remembered as the author of ‘The Three Bears’, published in his magazine, The Doctor, in 1837. Following the death of George III on 29 January 1820, Southey wrote ‘A Vision of Judgement’, celebrating the king’s presumed elevation into Heaven. In the poem, Southey criticised Lord Byron and his ‘Satanic School’. In reply, Byron wrote his own ‘Vision’, imagining the same scene from a very different political perspective. He accused Southey of sycophancy, raising questions about the nature of the laureateship and its propensity to be used as a propaganda machine rather than as a pedestal for exemplary poetic endeavour.

See also: 1994.81

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Reference Southey, Robert (1774-1843)

There are 409 works by Southey, Robert (1774-1843) in the Trust's collection, e.g.:
1988.111 (c) Southey, Robert. 'March to Moscow'. Hand of Dora Wordsworth. - Written and signed by the author 'Robert Southey'. - First line 'The Emperor Nap (?) he would set off..'

1989.33 Southey, Robert. - Wat Tyler; a dramatic poem in three acts. By Robert Southey, Esq. Poet Laureate to her Majesty. - London : Cleave, [1850 pencilled, possibly earlier]. 195 x 110mm ; text block height 195mm. There is an eagle printed on the front cover with written on it 'E pluribus unum'. - Price two pence. - Paper cover torn and ripped, front and verso.

1989.99 Southey, Robert. - Robert Southey Poems 1797. - Oxford : Woodstock Books, 1989. - 183 x 120mm ; text block height 172mm ; orange cloth with dust-jacket ; part of a series of facsimile reprints chosen and introduced by Jonathan Wordsworth (Revolution and Romanticism, 1789-1834), facsimile of the work published in Bristol by Joseph Cottle and in London by G.G. and J. Robinson, 1797.

1989.169 Southey, Robert. - Robert Southey Wat Tyler 1817. - Oxford : Woodstock Books, 1989. - 182 x 117mm ; text block height 172mm ; orange cloth with dust-jacket ; part of a series of facsimile reprints chosen and introduced by Jonathan Wordsworth (Revolution and Romanticism, 1789-1834), facsimile of the work published in London by W. Hone, 1817.

1990.57.3 Southey, Robert. - Wat Tyler. A dramatic poem. In three acts. - London : Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, 1817. - 177 x 109mm ; text block height 172mm ; marbled boards, quarter bound leather ; there is a quotation from Shakespeare on the title page, 'Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke.' ; inscribed 'I bought this book of / the widow of R. Detrozier / JWC.' ; bookplate of 'The Working Men's College' and library regulations for the same.

Person/place picker

There are 409 works by Southey, Robert (1774-1843) in the Trust's collection, e.g.:
1988.111 (c)		Southey, Robert. 'March to Moscow'. Hand of Dora Wordsworth. - Written and signed by the author 'Robert Southey'. - First line 'The Emperor Nap (?) he would set off..'
1989.33		Southey, Robert. - Wat Tyler; a dramatic poem in three acts. By Robert Southey, Esq. Poet Laureate to her Majesty. - London : Cleave, [1850 pencilled, possibly earlier]. 195 x 110mm ; text block height 195mm. There is an eagle printed on the front cover with written on it 'E pluribus unum'. - Price two pence. - Paper cover torn and ripped, front and verso.
1989.99		Southey, Robert. - Robert Southey Poems 1797. - Oxford : Woodstock Books, 1989. - 183 x 120mm ; text block height 172mm ; orange cloth with dust-jacket ; part of a series of facsimile reprints chosen and introduced by Jonathan Wordsworth (Revolution and Romanticism, 1789-1834), facsimile of the work published in Bristol by Joseph Cottle and in London by G.G. and J. Robinson, 1797.
1989.169		Southey, Robert. - Robert Southey Wat Tyler 1817. - Oxford : Woodstock Books, 1989. - 182 x 117mm ; text block height 172mm ; orange cloth with dust-jacket ; part of a series of facsimile reprints chosen and introduced by Jonathan Wordsworth (Revolution and Romanticism, 1789-1834), facsimile of the work published in London by W. Hone, 1817.
1990.57.3		Southey, Robert. - Wat Tyler. A dramatic poem. In three acts. - London : Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, 1817. - 177 x 109mm ; text block height 172mm ; marbled boards, quarter bound leather ; there is a quotation from Shakespeare on the title page, 'Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke.' ; inscribed 'I bought this book of / the widow of R. Detrozier / JWC.' ; bookplate of 'The Working Men's College' and library regulations for the same.