Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Macken, John
MACKEN, JOHN (1784?–1823), poet, born about 1784, was eldest son of Richard Macken, merchant, of Brookeborough, near Enniskillen, co. Fermanagh. In early life he carried on business at Ballyconnell, co. Cavan. He then came to Enniskillen, where he helped to establish, and was fellow-editor with his brother-in-law, Edward Duffy, of the 'Erne Packet' or 'Enniskillen Chronicle.' The first number was published on 10 Aug. 1808, and to it Macken contributed both prose and verse. In 1818 he went to London, and published at his own cost a volume of poetry, which proved a failure. After visiting Paris, Macken assisted in the compilation in London of the 'Huntingdon Peerage' (1821), published with the name of Henry Nugent Bell [q. v.] as the author. William Jordan [q. v.] wards issued several of his poems in the 'Literary Gazette,' and procured the publication of his third volume of poems, the 'Lays on Land.' Macken returned in bad health in 1821 to Ireland, where he resumed his position as joint-editor of the 'Enniskillen Chronicle.' He died on 7 May 1823, aged 39, and was buried in Aughaveagh parish church, where there is a memorial to him. Letitia Elizabeth Landon [q. v.] wrote a fanciful monody on his death in the 'Literary Gazette.'
Macken published: 1. 'Minstrel Stolen Moments, or Shreds of Fancy,' Dublin, 1814, 8vo (anon.) 2. 'The Harp of the Desert, containing the Battle of Algiers, with other Pieces in Verse. By Ismael Fitzadam, formerly able seaman on board the frigate,' 8vo, London, 1818; the pseudonym is wholly fanciful, and seems to have been resented by Lord Exmouth, the hero of Algiers, to whom, with the officers under his command, the book was dedicated. 3. 'Lays on Land,' 8vo, London, 1821, under the same pseudonym. Alaric Watts published several of Macken's poems in his 'Poetical Album' (1828-9), together with a long autobiographical letter from him, which is mostly apocryphal. At his best Macken is a very feeble imitator of Byron. A poem of some merit, entitled 'Napoleon Moribundus,' was long attributed to him; it was, however, written by Thomas McCarthy (d. 1820).
[Gent. Mag. for March 1870; O'Donoghue's Poets of Ireland, p. 148; Jerdan's Autobiography, iii. 39-45, and Appendices C and E.]