William Laird Clowes

William Laird Clowes ( born 1 February 1856 in Hampstead, † August 14 1905 in St- Leonards- on-Sea, East Sussex ) was a British author and journalist.

Life

Clowes attended Aldenham School ( Hertfordshire) and then studied at King's College (University of London). During his school days he had tried as a writer and was in 1876 with " Meroe " ( a love story ) successful debut.

To complete his education, Clowes changed on April 16, 1877 Lincoln 's Inn. In parallel, he occasionally wrote for various magazines and newspapers. Encouraged by this success, he left with effect of 11 March 1879, the Lincoln 's Inn and devoted himself only to writing.

Until 1882 Clowes wrote for several rural newspapers and magazines. In this year he married Ethel Mary Louise, a daughter of Lewis Edwards of Mitcham and had with her ​​a son, Geoffrey (* 1883). Together with his family he settled in London. Under the pseudonym Nautilus he wrote for the " Army & Navy Gazette"; preferably via the Royal Navy. He had in the political and social realities of the U.S. Great interest. In 1890 he toured the southern states and was then in The Times a highly controversial essay - publish - "Black America". Later, this article appeared in expanded form in the book trade.

1900 he was appointed as assistant at the Institute of Naval Architects and the Royal United Service Institution asked for his cooperation.

After some preliminary work Clowes decided to quit his day job and to work exclusively as a writer. From this time his main work "The Royal Navy " was born. Due to illness Clowes spent considerable time in Davos ( Switzerland ). At the age of 49 years William Laird Clowes died on August 14, 1905 at his estate Eversleigh Gardens in St- Leonards- on-Sea.

Honors

Writings (selection )

Clowes works of fiction were subject to the style of the time and had, if at all, hardly a success. His socially critical work " Black America " is very remarkable, as he here with clear words denouncing racial segregation and warns of possible racial unrest and a resulting civil war. As Magnum Opus applies his seven -volume work on the Royal Navy.

  • The captain of the " Mary Rose ". A tale of tomorrow. Routledge, London 2007, ISBN 978-0-415-19290-3 ( Nachdr d ed London 1894).
  • The lover 's progress. Poems. Cassell, London, 1881.
  • Meroë. A poem in six books. Wakeham Books, London, 1876.
  • All about the Royal Navy. Cassell, London, 1891
  • Black America. A study of the ex -slave and his late master. University Press, Westport, Conn. 1970, ISBN 0-8371-3588-5 ( Nachdr d ed London 1891)
  • Four modern naval campaigns. Historical, strategical, and tactical. Unit Library, London 1902
  • The naval campaign of Lissa, 1866. Potsdam Flags & Publ, Sheffield 2003, ISBN 1-900688-14- X ( Nachdr d ed London 1906)
  • The Royal Navy. A history from the earliest times to the present. AMS Press, New York 1966 ( 7 vols Nachdr d ed London 1897/1903 )
Knight Bachelor Dictionary of National Biography Integrated Authority File
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