Author: Hood, Thomas
Biography:
Hood, Thomas (1799-1845: ODNB)
Hood's father Thomas, born in Scotland, was a bookseller and publisher in London; his mother Elizabeth Sands belonged to a family of engravers. Hood was born in London, where he attended school, learnt the engraver's trade, and began contributing to literary magazines. In 1821, he was launched on his journalistic career by the offer of a post as sub-editor for the London Magazine, where he made some close friends, notably Lamb, Hazlitt, De Quincey, and Reynolds. In 1825 he married Reynolds's sister Jane; they had two children who survived infancy. Hood suffered from poor health and, despite his writing for some of the most popular magazines and annuals and periodically publishing selections from his work in volume form, he could barely make a living. From 1835 to 1840 the family lived in Europe to reduce expenses. He died in London in 1845, his wife in 1846; they are buried in Kensal Green cemetery. (ODNB 5 Apr. 2019)