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Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Huckell, John

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592124Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 28 — Huckell, John1891Francis Watt

HUCKELL, JOHN (1729–1771), poet, son of Thomas Huckell, burgess of Stratford-upon-Avon, was baptised there 29 Dec. 1729. He studied at the grammar school of Stratford, matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, on 8 April 1747, proceeded B.A. 11 March 1751, and 'was presented to the curacy of Hounslowin Middlesex, and the chapel standing on the confines of two parishes, Heston and Isleworth.' He resided in the latter (preface to Avon), and on his death was buried there, 20 Sept. 1771. Huckell wrote: 1. 'Avon; a Poem, in three parts.' The first edition was published in 1758, 'being printed in quarto at Birmingham in an elegant manner by the celebrated Baskerville' (preface to Avon). A new edition was published at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1811. 2. 'An Epistle to David Garrick, Esq., on his being presented with the Freedom of Stratford-upon-Avon; and on the Jubilee held there to the Memory of Shakespeare in September 1769 ' (Gent. Mag. April 1813, p.357).

[Foster's Alumni Oxon. ii. 703; preface to 'Avon,' 1811 edition; Gent. Mag. 1758 p.282, 1813 pt. i. p.212; Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. vii. 92.]