John Cordy Jeaffreson
John Cordy Jeaffreson (14 January 1831 – 2 February 1901) was an English novelist and writer of popular non-fiction. He also spent periods teaching and as an inspector of historical documents.
Life
Jeaffreson was born at Framlingham, Suffolk, on 14 January 1831. He was the second son and ninth child of William Jeaffreson (1789–1865), a surgeon, and Caroline (died 1863), youngest child of George Edwards, tradesman there; and was named after his mother's uncle by marriage, John Cordy (1781–1828) of Worlingworth and Woodbridge. After education at the grammar schools of Woodbridge and Botesdale, he was apprenticed to his father in August 1845; but matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford, on 22 June 1848, where among his undergraduate friends were the future novelists Henry Kingsley and Arthur Locker.[1]
After graduating B.A. in May 1852, Jeaffreson lived in London for about six years, working as a private tutor and lecturing in schools; and also began to write. From 1856 he was a journalist, writing from 1858 for the rest of his life for the
Jeaffreson moved in legal as well as in literary social circles. In 1860 he joined "Our Club", a literary group that was then a dining club, meeting weekly at Clunn's Hotel, Covent Garden. In 1872
After years of poor health, which brought his work to an end, Jeaffreson died on 2 February 1901 at his house in Maida Vale, and was buried in Paddington Cemetery, Willesden Lane.[1]
Works
Jeaffreson initially wrote novels, publishing Crewe Rise in 1854 and next year Hinchbrook, which ran as a serial in Fraser's Magazine. During the next thirty years a long series of orthodox three-volume novels followed; Live it Down (1863) and Not Dead Yet (1864) were well received on publication. Novels and Novelists from Elizabeth to Victoria (1858), compiled at the British Museum, opened up a popularising vein that became Jeaffreson's main work, leading to:[1]
- A Book about Doctors (1860);
- A Book about Lawyers (1866);
- A Book about the Clergy (1870);
- Brides and Bridals (1872); and
- A Book about the Table (1874).
On the recommendation of
Jeaffreson inspected the manuscript collection of
His other main works were:[1]
- The Annals of Oxford, 1870 (a popular work, much criticised)
- Cutting for Partners, 3 vols. 1890[2]
- A Book of Recollections, 2 vols. 1894
- A Young Squire of the Seventeenth Century, from the Papers of Christopher Jeaffreson of Dullingham House, Cambridgeshire, 2 vols. 1898
Family
Jeaffreson married on 2 October 1860, at St. Sepulchre's Church, Holborn, Arabella Ellen, only surviving daughter of William Eccles, F.R.C.S.; she survived him with a daughter, who died on 28 September 1909.[1]
Notes
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1912). "Jeaffreson, John Cordy". Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement). Vol. 2. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
External links
- Works by John Cordy Jeaffreson at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about John Cordy Jeaffreson at Internet Archive
- Works by John Cordy Jeaffreson at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)