| Administrative History | William Howitt, fourth son of Thomas and Phebe, was born on 18 December 1792. He had a poem published at the age of thirteen.
In 1821 he married Mary Botham of Uttoxeter (Staffordshire) (see D4734/5/5) and set up as a chemist and druggist in Nottingham in 1824, while continuing to publish, often in collaboration with his wife.
While living in Heidelberg (Germany) from 1840 to 1843 both William and Mary studied Swedish and Danish, later translating Scandinavian works including some by Hans Christian Andersen. After returning to London he was involved in publishing the People's Journal and Howitt's Journal.
From 1851 to 1854 he was touring in Australia accompanied by his sons Alfred and Charlton. Alfred became a distinguished traveller and geologist in Australia, but Charlton died in New Zealand in 1863, two years after emigrating.
During the 1850s William and Mary became interested in spiritualism. From 1870 they spent winter and spring in Rome (Italy) and the summer in the Tyrol (Austria). William died on 3 March 1879 (the same date as his brother Francis) and was buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome. Mary too was buried there when she died in 1888, despite her conversion to Roman Catholicism. |