William Godwin's Diary

Hayley, William

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This person is mentioned in the diary a total of 4 times, and was a venue (V) 1 time.

You may also examine their meals and meetings in more detail.

1811

24  August  1811 30  August  1811 (V)

1812

21  July  1812

1820

11  November  1820

  • Name: Hayley, William
  • Gender: Male
  • Birth Date: 9  November  1745
  • Death Date: 12  November  1820
  • Occupation: biographer

William Hayley was a literary figure who failed in his writing for the theatre before concentrating on poetry. He was best known for his Life of Milton (1796). He was later a patron of William Blake. In August 1811 Godwin writes to him, and six days later visits him (and his wife)as Felpham. His letter to Mary Jane describes the walk, and the meeting. Godwin did not take to Hayley - whom he refers to as the 'literary hermit', but he did like his wife. Godwin writes to him again in 1812.

Godwin records his death.

  • MS. Abinger c. 11, fols. 94-5: 23 July 1812
  • DNB.

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.

Name Number of Meetings
Hayley, Mary (neé Welford) 1

Hayley, Mary (neé Welford)

Hover over a bar to see number of appearances/year.
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This person is mentioned in the diary a total of 1 time, and was a venue (V) 1 time.

You may also examine their meals and meetings in more detail.

1811

30  August  1811 (V)

  • Name: Hayley, Mary (neé Welford)
  • Gender: Female
  • Birth Date: 1781
  • Death Date: 11848

In March 1809, the poet William Hayley married his second wife, Mary Welford (1781–1848), daughter of a retired merchant of Blackheath. He was nearly sixty-four, she was twenty-eight years old. By 1812 they had separated. Godwin visits them (technically, he visits the poet, an increasing recluse, on a trip in August 1811. He did not take to Hayley, but is fulsome in his praise for Hayley's wife in a letter to Mary Jane. He describes her as a pleasant, unaffected animated girl

  • MS. Abinger c. 42, fols. 65-6: 31 Aug. 1811

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.

Name Number of Meetings
Hayley, William 1