Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Newell, Robert Hasell
NEWELL, ROBERT HASELL (1778–1852), amateur artist and author, born in Essex in 1778, was son of Robert Richardson Newell, surgeon. After attending Colchester school he was admitted pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, on 22 April 1795, and was elected scholar on 2 Nov. following. He graduated B.A. in 1799 as fourth wrangler, and proceeded M.A. in 1802, and B.D. in 1810. On 1 April 1800 he was admitted fellow, was lecturer from 1800 to 1804, and acted as dean of the college from 1809 to 1 June 1813, when he was presented to the college rectory of Little Hormead, Hertfordshire (Registers of St. John's College). He was also twenty-six years curate of Great Hormead. He died on 31 Jan. 1852, aged 64 (cf. Cussans, Hertfordshire, ‘Edwinstree Hundred,’ p. 79).
Newell was a good amateur artist, having studied under William Payne (fl. 1800) [q. v.] His edition of Goldsmith's ‘Poetical Works’ (1811 and 1820), in which he attempted to ascertain, chiefly from local observation, the actual scene of ‘The Deserted Village,’ is embellished with drawings by him, engraved in aquatint by Samuel Alken [q. v.] He likewise illustrated his ‘Letters on the Scenery of North Wales’ (1821), the drawings being engraved in aquatint by T. Sutherland. In 1845 he published a little book entitled, ‘The Zoology of the English Poets corrected by the Writings of Modern Naturalists.’
[Information from R. F. Scott, esq.; Newell's Works; Gent. Mag. 1852, pt. i. p. 311.]