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Sir Henry Newbolt
Sir Henry John Newbolt was an English poet, novelist and historian. He also had a role as a government adviser with regard to the study of English in England. He is perhaps best remembered for his poems "Vitaï Lampada" and "Drake's Drum".
Newbolt attended Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, and Caistor Grammar School, from which he gained a scholarship to Clifton College, where he was head of the school (1881) and edited the school magazine. His contemporaries there included John McTaggart, Arthur Quiller-Couch, Roger Fry, William Birdwood, Francis Younghusband and Douglas Haig. Graduating from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Newbolt was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1887 and practised until 1899.
Newbolt died at his home in Campden Hill, Kensington, London, on 19 April 1938, aged 75. A blue plaque there commemorates his residency. He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's church on an island in the lake on the Orchardleigh Estate of the Duckworth family in Somerset.
In his home town of Bilston, a public house was named after him, and a blue plaque is displayed on Barclay's bank near the street where he was born.
Early 20th century British composer Hope Squire wrote several songs based on Newbolt’s poems.
In June 2013 a campaign was launched by The Black Country Bugle to erect a statue in Newbolt's memory.
Recordings were made of Newbolt reading some of his own poems. They were on four 78rpm sides in the Columbia Records "International Educational Society" Lecture series, Lecture 92 (D40181/2).
Books by Sir Henry Newbolt
Outward Bound
Sir Henry John Newbolt, was an English poet, novelist and historian. He also had a role as a government adviser with regard to the study of English in England. He is perhaps best remembered for his poems "Vitaï Lampada" and "Drake's Drum".
Vitai Lampada
An iconic poem that has been recited and sung by generations of schoolchildren, it celebrates the virtues of courage, sportsmanship, and sacrifice. Newbolt's stirring words have become synonymous with the spirit of camaraderie and the pursuit of exce...
Aladore
Aladore, a knight bored with his administrative duties, embarks on a pilgrimage to discover his true purpose. His journey leads him to the enchanting city of Paladore, where he encounters Aithne, a captivating enchantress with ties to the realm of th...
Pedlar's Song
“Pedlar's Song” is a powerful and evocative narrative poem that explores themes of love, loss, and the power of memory. Its vivid imagery and haunting melody have made it a beloved classic of English literature. Originally published in 1896, the poem...
Admirals All
Admirals All is a collection of poems by Sir Henry Newbolt, a British poet and military historian, published in 1897. The poems explore themes of naval and military history, heroism, and patriotism. The book is known for its stirring and evocative la...