Wilmon Brewer
Wilmon Brewer (1895–1998) was an American literary scholar, poet, writer and philanthropist.[1]
Early life
Brewer was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, and lived there for most of his life on his family's estate, Great Hill. When he was a young man, the family of his future wife, Katharine Hay More, purchased the property from Brewer's parents. During this time period, he and More fell in love. In the summer of 1922 they married, and then lived there, so even though the estate changed hands he lived on it essentially all his life.
Graduating from
The Brewer family has been prominent for two centuries, including James Brewer (1742-1806), who was an early American patriot leader, Thomas Mayo Brewer, who was a companion of naturalist John James Audubon, and Gen. Wilmon Blackmar, a Civil War medal of honor winner.[3]
Poet and author
A good example of Brewer's skill as a classical scholar is his book
Brewer was a prolific poet himself, publishing a number of books of poetry. He was also a biographer, writing a biography of Brookes More, and also of
At the age of 90, Brewer published his autobiography, Looking Backwards. Brewer and his wife were adventurous world travelers throughout their lives and an extensive diary of their trips is included in the autobiography.
Brewer's books include:
- Shakespeare's Influence on Sir Walter Scott, 1925
- Dante's Eclogues, 1927
- Sonnets and Sestinas, 1937
- Life and Poems of Brookes More, 1940, 2nd edition 1980
- About Poetry and Other Matters, 1943
- Adventures in Verse, 1945, 2nd edition 2005
- Talks About Poetry, 1948
- New Adventures, 1950
- A Life of Maurice Parker, 1954
- Adventures Further, 1958
- Still More Adventures, 1966
- Ovid's Metamorphoses in European Culture, 1978
- Concerning the Art of Poetry, 1979
- Latest Adventures, 1981
- Looking Backwards, 1985
Philanthropy
Brewer and his wife were generous philanthropists. An early example of this is that at the age of 25, Brewer gave "The Old Ordinary," (a historic tavern and home, built in 1686), to the Hingham Historical Society in memory of his father. The Society has held seasonal tours of the building since 1922.
References
- ^ Brewer, Wilmon, Looking Backwards, Marshall Jones Company, Francestown, NH, 1985
- ^ Concord Library, "Marcia S. Moore Collection, 1948-1999," (http://www.concordlibrary.org/scollect/fin_aids/Moore.html)
- ^ Milne, John, "Once-notable family has its history sold to the highest bidder," Boston Globe, Metro section, p. 16, May 29, 1995, Boston, MA.
- ^ Brewer, Wilmon, Ovid's Metamorphoses in European Culture, Marshall Jones Company, Francestown, NH, 1978
- ^ Brewer, Wilmon, Looking Backwards, p. 279, Marshall Jones Company, Francestown, NH, 1985.
- ^ "The Gregarious Reader," Daily Boston Globe, A-27, 10-18-1959.
- ^ "The Gregarious Reader," Daily Boston Globe, A-27, 11-3-1957.
- ^ Cash, William R., "Curry Graduates Hear King Plea on Energy," Boston Globe, p. 1, 5-19-1980.
- ^ "The Gregarious Reader," Boston Globe, A-27, 11-3-57.
- ^ Hingham Historical Society's History Web page (http://www.hinghamhistorical.org/html/society_history.html)
- ^ Day, Lucinda, "Hingham Cemetery Facts," (http://www.hinghamcemetery.org/HinghamCemeteyFACTS.pdf)
- ^ Hingham, Town of, Web site (http://www.hingham-ma.gov/about.html)
- ^ Boston.Com, More-Brewer Park (http://calendar.boston.com/hingham-ma/venues/show/1155128-morebrewer-park
- ^ "Hingham Yesterdays," Wicked Local Hingham, with News from the Hingham Journal, (http://www.wickedlocal.com/hingham/features/x1316689347/HINGHAM-YESTERDAYS-Dance-at-Wompatuck-Club)
- ^ Sherman, Marjorie W., "Society: Hingham to Revive Old New England Next Week," Daily Boston Globe, 7-14-1951.