HOOD, THOMAS, was b. in London in 1798, and after leaving school was placed in the counting-house of a Russian merchant, but his health failing, lie was sent to Dundee. At the age of 17, lie returned to London, and engaged himself to learn the art of engrav ing with his uncle. In 1821 lie was offered the post of sub-editor of the London Maga zine, which he accepted, and at once entered upon its duties and an extensive literary acquaintance. His first separate publication was entitled Odes and Addresses to Great. People. He published Whims and Oddities in 1826, of which a second and third series appeared during the two following years. In 1829 lie commenced The Conde Annual, and continued it for nine years. Ile edited The Gem for one year, contributing to its pages his striking poem entitled Eugene Araon's _Dream. In 1831-he-went to reside at Wanstead in Essex, where he wrote his novel of 7Ylney hall; but pecuniary difficulties supervening, he returned to London in 1835. In 1835 he commenced the publication of hood's (Ian, to which his portrait was attached. Health failing about this time, he went to reside on the continent, and remainecesix years. In 1839' he published Up the Rhine, the idea of which was taken front /Jump/try Clinker. On his return to England,
he became the editor of The .tVew Monthly Magazine, and on his withdrawal from its management in 1843, he published Whimsicalities, consisting chiefly of his contributions to that serial. In 1844 he started .11hod's Magazine, and contributed to its p .ges till within a mouth of his death. During his last illness, sir Hobert Peel•conferred on him it pension of ,4.100 a year, which was transferred to his wife. He died on May 3, 1845, and was buried in Kensall Green cemetery. Compare Memorials of Thomas flood, Col lected, Arranged, and Edited by his Laughter, with a Preface and .Notes by his Son (2 vols. 1860).
hood takes a high place both as a humorist and as a serious poet. lie is gmat at once in comedy and pathos, and he sometimes curiously mingles and combines both. As a punster, he was supreme; he connects far-separated words ideas by the most subtle analogies, and sends them loose. Much of his comedy, however, is verbal and shallow, and will be soma forgotten. It is as a poet that hood will be remembered. This Eugene Aram's Dream, Song (;1' the Shirt, and Bridge of Sighs, are among the most perfect poems of their kind in the English language.