Charles Lamb

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British essayist, poet and critic who wrote for magazines and papers while working as an accounting clerk for 33 yrs. He was educated at the charity school Christ's Hospital, 1782-1789, where fellow students included Leigh Hunt and Sam Coleridge, with whom he maintained a lifetime friendship. Lamb first became a clerk in South Sea House in 1789 and from there moved to East India House, where he remained 1792-1825. In 1796, he published his first set of sonnets; the year that his sister, Mary Ann, killed their mom in a fit of madness. His first poetic works were unsuccessful, including one novel, "A Tale of Rosamund Gray," and two plays. Lamb did receive some recognition for his children's book, "Tales from Shakespeare," 1807, and an anthology. His most noted work was the series, "Essays of Elia," showing gentle humor, tender sympathy and devotion to family and friends. Lamb applied and was appointed the guardianship of his sister after the murder of their mother, to keep her from being placed in an insane asylum. He spent the rest of his life taking care of her and never married. Lamb died 12/27/1834, Edmonton, London, England. Link to Wikipedia biography