Author: Downman, Hugh
Biography:
DOWNMAN, Hugh (1740-1809: ODNB)
Physican and poet, he was born to Hugh Downman and Anne (Richards) Downman at Newton St Cyrus, near Exeter, Devon, and baptised on 25 Feb. 1740. Educated at the Exeter grammar school and Balliol College, Oxford (matric. 27 Feb. 1759, BA 1763), he was ordained deacon in 1763 and priest in 1765. He then moved to Edinburgh to study medicine. There he boarded with Thomas Blacklock (q.v.) who encouraged him in writing poetry. In 1769 he moved to London, gained his MA from Jesus College, Cambridge, and moved to Exeter where on 20 Dec. 1771 he married Frances Andrew, daughter of an Exeter physician. Although his dramatic tragedies were not very successful in performance, his long poem, Infancy, made his name. He was a founding member of an Exeter literary society. Downman suffered ill-health throughout adulthood. He died at Exeter and his will benefitted his cousin John Downman and his wife and children, and Frances who died in 1822. (ODNB 25 Oct 2018; ancestry.co.uk 25 Oct 2018, 27 Nov. 2024; CCEd 27 Nov. 2024; Alumni Oxonienses; ACAD) SR
Other Names:
- H. Downman