Sentenced to two years in prison for libeling the Prince Regent, Leigh Hunt became a symbol of intellectual resistance in the early nineteenth century. Though his name is often linked to the legal battles of his journal, The Examiner, he also served as a central figure in a London-based literary circle that nurtured emerging poetic talent.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1784 at Southgate, James Henry Leigh Hunt was the son of Isaac Hunt, a former Philadelphia lawyer, and Mary Shewell. His family arrived in Britain following their departure from the United States after the American War of Independence. Educated at Christ's Hospital from 1791 to 1799, Hunt developed an early interest in poetry. A speech impediment prevented his attendance at university, leading him to pursue a career in writing and journalism instead.
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Hunt transitioned from his role as a clerk at the War Office to editing The Examiner in 1808. Alongside his brother John Hunt, he established a platform for radical political principles. The publication's independence earned it significant scrutiny, culminating in the 1813 libel conviction regarding Prince Regent George. During his incarceration at Surrey County Gaol, Hunt continued his editorial duties and received visits from figures such as Lord Byron and Charles Lamb. Beyond The Examiner, he contributed to periodicals including The Reflector, The Indicator, and The Companion.
Literary Influence and Circle
As a central member of the Hampstead-based group known as the 'Hunt circle,' he played a key role in introducing authors like John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Robert Browning, and Alfred Tennyson to the public. His own poetry, including 1816’s Story of Rimini, reflected a preference for the style of Geoffrey Chaucer over the couplets of Alexander Pope. Despite his contributions to literary criticism and his popular poems like 'Abou Ben Adhem', his work occasionally drew ridicule from contemporaries.
Fast facts
- Born: 1784, Southgate
- Died: 1859, Putney
- Education: Christ's Hospital, 1791–1799
- Key Publication: The Examiner
- Imprisonment: Surrey County Gaol, 1813–1815
- Spouse: Marianne Kent
- Burial site: Kensal Green Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Why was Leigh Hunt imprisoned?
He was sentenced to two years for libeling Prince Regent George in The Examiner, where he described the Prince as corpulent.
Who were the primary members of the Hunt circle?
The group included William Hazlitt, Charles Lamb, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and other notable literary figures of the time.
