Claris, John Chalk

(?1797-1866)

   Born at Canterbury, where his father was a bookseller and publisher, he was educated at the King's School, Canterbury. He became editor of the Kent Herald in Canterbury around 1826 and remained in this post until 1865. He supported the cause of reform and wrote enthusiastically in favor of Catholic emancipation; he also campaigned for parliamentary reform (the Great Reform Act was passed in 1832). The following poetical works were published under the name of "Arthur Brooke" (DNB): Juvenile Pieces, 1816. Poems, 1817. Durovernum: The Curse of Chatterton, and Other Poems, 1818. Thoughts and Feelings, 1820. Retrospection, 1821. Eleg y on the Death of Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1822. Five of his poems are available at Oldpotery.com: "A Lament," "Night Thought," "Sonnet. To-," "To a Friend."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition, 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. Oldpoetry (www.oldpoetry.com).