BLOOMFIELD, Robert, English poet: b. Honington, Suffolk, 3 Dec. 1766; d. Shefford, 19 Aug. 1823. He learned to read at the village school, and in 1781 was sent to learn the trade of a shoemaker with his brother in London. The visiting of several places of worship, a de bating society, Covent Garden Theatre, and the reading of sundry books, called forth his faculties, and he became almost unconsciously a poet. Hearing him one day repeat a song which he had composed, his astonished brother prevailed on him to offer it to the London Magazine, and it was accepted. The piece was called (The Milkmaid) A second, 'The Sailor's Return,) likewise found a place in that journal. Thomson's (Seasons,) (Paradise Lost,' and other works of this kind, now became the sub jects of his constant study. In the country, where he resided for a short time in 1786, he first conceived the idea of his poem, Farmer's Boy,' which is characterized by a spirit of rural simplicity and innocence. It was written under the most unfavorable circum stances, in a garret. It was first shown to
Capel Lofft in 1798, who was so much pleased with it that, in conjunction with his friend Hill, he had it printed in 1800. Bloomfield was patronized by the Duke of Grafton, who be stowed on him a small annuity and made him an under-sealer in the seal-office. This situa tion he was forced to resign on account of ill health. He then worked again at his trade as a shoemaker, and employed himself in con structing .€olian harps. Engaging in the book trade he became a bankrupt, and in the latter part of his life was afflicted with violent head aches and became nearly blind. He was grad ually reduced to such a state of nervous irrita bility that apprehensions were entertained of his becoming insane. These fears were termi nated by his death. Consult Hart,