Old Photograph Sir Theodore Martin Scotland

Old photograph of Sir Theodore Martin in Edinburgh, Scotland. Theodore, born 16 September 1816, died 18 August 1909, was a Scottish poet, biographer, and translator. He was the son of James Martin, a solicitor in Edinburgh, where Theodore was born and educated at the Royal High School and University. He practised as a solicitor in Edinburgh from 1840 to 1845, after which he went to London, England, and became head of the firm of Martin and Leslie. His first contribution to literature was the humorous Bon Gaultier Ballads, written along with W.E. Aytoun, which remained popular for a long time; originally contributed to a magazine, they appeared in book form in 1845. He is probably best known for his Life of the Prince Consort, the writing of which was entrusted to him by Queen Victoria, a work which won him her lifelong friendship. He also wrote Lives of Professor Aytoun and Lord Lyndhurst. In 1851 he married Helena Faucit, a well known actress, and author of studies on Shakespeare's Female Characters, whose Life he published in 1901. The couple lived for some time at Bryntysilio, The Hill of St. Tyssilio, which he bought in 1861, near Llangollen, where in 1889 they were visited by Queen Victoria during her progress in Wales. He was Lord Rector of St. Andrews University in Fife in 1881, and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1880. He died in 1909 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.



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