Author: Maturin, Charles Robert
Biography:
MATURIN, Charles Robert (1780-1824: ODNB)
The descendent of a French Huguenot pastor who had arrived in Ireland in the seventeenth century, he was born at Dublin to William Maturin and his wife Fidelia (Watson). Maturin’s father was a post office official until, in 1809, he was dismissed on a false accusation of corruption. Maturin was educated at Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1800. In 1803 he married Henrietta Kingsbury and they were to have four children (one of whom also became a clergyman). In 1803 he was appointed to the curacy of Loughrea, Co. Galway, but in 1804 he was back in Dublin as curate of fashionable St. Peter’s church in Aungier St. He began writing to supplement his meagre stipend and published three novels (1807-1812). A favourable review by Walter Scott (q.v.) of Fatal Revenge (1807) led to correspondence between the two men, and Scott did what he could to further Maturin’s career and ease his financial situation. Bertram was his greatest dramatic success. Maturin had sent the play to Scott who passed it on to Lord Byron (q.v.); with Byron’s backing, the play was successfully produced at Drury Lane, enjoying a long run and critical success. His financial difficulties were briefly alleviated but Maturin spent freely and two subsequent plays, Manuel and Fredolfo, failed in performance (a third, “Osmyn,” was known only in manuscript). He returned to novel writing, with three more novels appearing in 1818, 1820 (his best-known, Melmoth the Wanderer), and 1824. Meanwhile his clerical career had stalled—Maturin attributed his lack of preferment in the church to his novels—but he did publish two collections of his sermons. Maturin applied to the RLF in Oct. 1822, stating that his curacy yielded an annual income of at most £125, inadequate, he said, for the support "of a numerous family in an expensive and populous city." He claimed that Murry had paid £350 for the copyright of Bertram; the letter does not record his subsequent dealings with Constable in Edinburgh. The Fund awarded £25 with a further £10 in Nov. 1822. Maturin died on 30 Oct. 1824 at his Dublin home at 41 York Street, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Peter’s. His death left his widow impoverished and on 3 Nov. 1824 she applied to the RLF and was awarded £50. (ODNB 14 Apr 2020; ancestry.co.uk 31 Jan. 2025; RLF file 472; EN2) SR
Other Names:
- C. R. Maturin
- R. C. Maturin
- R.C. Maturin