Kinglake
: ALEXANDER WILLIAM KINGLAKE'
Born 5 August 1809 at Taunton, Somerset, eldest son of William Kinglake,
banker and solicitor, and Mary Woodforde, into family of six surviving
children, 4 boys, 2 girls. Mother's father was medical attendant to Lady
Chatham at Burton Pynsent, and here she became as young girl friend and
riding companion to Lady Chatham's granddaughter, Hester Stanhope. As young
boy, AWK was taught horsemanship and Homer by mother, and at age of 12 was
sent as boarder to Rev. George Coleridge's King's School at Ottery St. Mary
in Devon (elder brother of S.T. Coleridge). In 1823 he went to Eton, where
became great friends with John Savile and Eliot Warburton, and from there in
1828 to Trinity College, Cambridge, where was friend with Tennyson, Arthur
Hallam, Richard Monkton Milnes, Thackeray and Venables. Received his B.A. in
1832, and entered Lincoln's Inn as law student in April 1832, as was too
shortsighted to be in army, which had wanted - this desire for life of
action was later translated into travel and enduring interest in military
affairs.
In London, AWK and Eliot Warburton became pupils under Bryan Procter - was
recently-appointed Commissioner for Lunacy, but also published poet (under
name Barry Cornwall). Thus, AWK moved into Procters house in St John's Wood,
where came into close contact with wife Anne Proctor, indefatigable hostess
to literary men and entered literary world: here AWK met Thomas Carlyle,
Lamb, and Hazlitt, and later Dickens, W.E. Forster, Abraham Haywood,
Monckton Milnes and Thackaray (became v. friendly with him), Landseer, Henry
Reeve. Later still, Procters hosted meetings including Browning and James
Russell Lowell. Was around this time that AWK quite shocked everyone by
declaring himself an atheist - v. daring for time etc.
In March 1834, AWK met again old Eton friend John Savile, now Lord
Pollington, who had recently returned from variation on the Grand Tour -
instead of visiting usual countries, he struck off via North Sea to Russia,
the Caucasus, Persia and India. AWK totally captivated by reports of
journey, and read Pollington's journal - this direct inspiration for his
journey the following year, as only important country not visited by
Pollington between England and India was Ottoman Turkey, and started
planning trip together.
In autumn 1834, AWK and Pollington set out for Ottoman Empire, ruled by
Sultan of Turkey, Mahmoud II. Pair travelled through Berlin, Dresden,
Prague, Vienna, and crossed into Ottoman dominion at Semlin on the Save,
taking with them accomplished interpreter in several languages, named
Mysseri, plus party of baggage horses, 'Suridgees', a Tartar bodyguard, etc.
Rode through Servia, to Adrianople and then Constantinople. Stayed in latter
place til Pollington recovered from fever, and then went on to Smyrna, where
Pollington found letters that obliged him to return to England- by following
summer had become MP for Pontefract. AWK went on alone by ship to Beirut,
from where he wrote to Lady Hester Standhope who, though she was by now
quite a recluse, sent back a welcoming reply mentioning that "sweet and
lovely girl" his mother and giving directions for reaching her retreat at
Djoun as soon as flood-waters in the River Damour had subsided. AWK then
went to see her: was received by LHS in stately manner, though she in
strange get-up of half-male and half-female oriental dress, and spoke to him
freely of her peculiar theories and knowledge, mystical, zodiacal,
prophetical and political - he rather sceptical about her mystical ability.
Stayed in her fortress-like house guarded by Albanians: "For hours and hours
this wondrous white woman poured forth her speech, for the most part
concerning sacred and profane mysteries; but every now and then she would
stay her lofty flight and swoop down upon the world again: whenever this
happened, I was interested in her conversation . . . [as she was then] cool,
decisive in manner, unsparing of enemies, full of audacious fun, and saying
the downright things that the sheepish society around her is afraid to
utter." Four years later, she was to die there, but still in 1835 had
sufficient power for AWK to write about her, "In truth, this half-ruined
convent, guarded by the proud heart of an English gentlewoman, was the only
spot throughout all Syria and Palestine in which the will of Mehemet Ali and
his fierce lieutenant was not the law . . . as long as Chatham's
grand-daughter breathed a breath of life, there was always one hillock, and
that took in the midst of a most populous district, which stood out and kept
its freedom".
After visiting LHS, AWK set out for Holy Land, going via Cana and Tiberias
to Jerusalem, then from Gaza across desert to Cairo, where was the plague.
From there, party went to Damascus and then Athens, Morea, Corfu and Rome,
Naples, Turin and then London - returned home after 18 months travel, and
soon after was called to the bar, on 5 May 1837. Spent next years in London
as lawyer, still at Procters and socializing with Thackeray et al, but did
not start writing book on Ottoman adventures til in early 1840s friend Eliot
Warburton expressed desire to go to Turkey - AWK set about putting his
journals in order to give Warburton, and realized would make a good book,
but written as if only Warburton were going to read it (hence engaging
personal style), even though was not finished before Warburton left.
Eventually finished in 1843, when AWK aged 34, and found publisher year
later: was published anonymously (with names changed) as 'Eothen, or Traces
of Travel Brought Home from the East' in summer 1844; book a sensational
success, and went into six editions in six following years. Was published
within a year of his friend Warburton's 'The Crescent and the Cross', and
was quickly followed by Monckton Milnes's 'Palm Leaves'.
In 1845 AWK made three-month trip to French-occupied Algeria, where stopped
at Orleansville, French attempt at town in hottest valley in country. Here
he met Colonel St-Arnaud, who received him with great kindness, even though
was due in six hours time to march against enemy in hostile country. Unable
to follow whole five-week campaign, as had to return to career in London,
AWK decided to watch only the departure of the expedition, which he did from
horseback: rode with Colonel and his party in middle of night for about 2
miles, parallel with leading cavalry, but bade farewell to party about a
league from Orleansville. At this time, AWK was totally taken over by
Saint-Arnaud's appearance, manner and military prowess, but was later
mortified by his praise of him, and so meant his criticism of both S-A and
Louis Napoleon were correspondingly harsh in his 'Invasion of the Crimea'.
Back in London in late 1845, and in early 1846 became involved in duel, even
though duelling had become penal in England a few months earlier. Challenged
Edward Marlborough FitzGerald and took place at Calais, on grounds that
FitzGerald introduced his mistress to AWK pretending that she was a friend
of good standing in society. However, all ended up as farce in Dessin's
Hotel - seconds met up at hotel and decided to call whole thing off, so duel
never happened.
Strange story re Kinglake, Elizabeth Ann Howard (born Haryett or Herriott)
and exiled Louis Napoleon (1847): rumour (unsubstantiated, but prevalent at
time, and in several books) was that Kinglake fell for Elizabeth Howard, to
whom he was giving history lessons - Howard attempting to school herself for
future life as mistress (from 1846, aged 23) of powerful Louis-Napoleon (he
in England, living at Carlton Terrace), planning to assume power in France),
and so taking lessons with variety of "distinguished professors". Story goes
that Kinglake declared love for Howard (only time is supposed to have done
in life), but was repulsed - and incident then led to personal dispute
between him and L-N. This story frequently given as explanation for
Kinglake's later virulent personal attacks on L-N in his 'The Invasion of
the Crimea'. In 1848, Howard followed Louis-Napoleon to France, where she
lived openly with him as his mistress - she was later given title Madame de
Beauregard, and lived at La Celle, near Versailles, former abode of Madame
de Pompadour, "with the national flag flying over it, to the great scandal
of the neighbourhood".
AWK, had political aspirations, and in 1852 he tried for seat in Parliament,
but unsuccessful. Then, in March 1854, Britain and France dclared war on
Russia, and by September troops sent to Crimea - almsot immediately AWK
joined an expedition to accompany British toops. AWK went ashore for first
encounter with enemy at Battle of the Alma (20 September 1854), and followed
army - spent whole day of battle with Lord Raglan and dined with him alone
that night - great opportunity for future historian of the Crimean War. AWK
altogether spent just over a month with army in the Crimea, but illness sent
him home in November 1854. Raglan died in Crimea in June 1855, after serious
lalied defeat, and with this Lady Raglan asked AWK to write history of the
campaign, giving him all her papers - this quickly grew into history of
entire Crimean War. First two volumes published 1863, to great acclaim;
third and fourth appeared in 1868; fifth in 1875; sixth in 1880; and seventh
and eighth in 1887. Extremely technical and detailed, although beautifully
written: also contained much prejudice in favour of Raglan and against
St-Arnaud and Napoleon III (stuff against latter particularly vitriolic -
see Howard above).
Meanwhile, in 1857 had tried again for Parliament, and this time elected as
Liberal MP for Bridgwater in Somerset, seat he kept until 1868: however, had
weak voice and feeble delivery, so never really made it as politician. Had
all the time been preoccupied with his 'Invasion of the Crimea', and from
1869 devoted entire time to completing it: that year again visited the
Crimea - aim was to go over scenes of the fighting.
During following 30 years, AWK spent time in London, attending his clubs
(Athenaeum and Travellers'). From 1880 was badly deaf, so often dined alone.
He never married, and died of cancer of the tongue on 2 Jan 1891, aged 81.