William Henry Ireland

For the Ontario merchant and political figure, see William Henry Ireland (politician).

William Henry Ireland
Half-portrait of a young man in a loose brown coat and a white ruffle shirt. The man has brown toussled hair and is depicted with his left shoulder facing the viewer and his face turned towards the viewer. He is depicted in front of a cloudy sky and the image is set in an oval frame.
William Henry Ireland, hand-coloured stipple engraving by Frederick Mackenzie after Unknown artist, 1818, National Portrait Gallery, London.
Born(1775-08-02)2 August 1775[1]
London[1]
Died17 April 1835(1835-04-17) (aged 59)[1]
Sussex Place, St George's-in-the-Fields, London[1]
NationalityEnglish
Occupation(s)clerk, writer, illustrator
Known forIreland Shakespeare forgeries
Notable workVortigern and Rowena
Spouses
  • Alice Crudge (4 July 1796–her death)[1]
  • unknown Ireland, née Bayly, née Pepper (1804–?)[2]
Children
  • Anna Maria de Burgh[1]
  • another daughter[1]
Parents

William Henry Ireland (1775–1835) was an English forger of would-be Shakespearean documents and plays. He is less well known as a poet, writer of gothic novels and histories. Although he was apparently christened William-Henry, he was known as Samuel through much of his life (apparently after a brother who died in childhood), and many sources list his name as Samuel William Henry Ireland.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Baines 2011.
  2. ^ Lundy 2003.