Daniel, George

Scope and Content

Personal papers, correspondence, news-cuttings and pamphlets concerned mainly with various literary societies. This collection also comprises correspondence of the Daniel family, including that of George Daniel's son, Jesse Cato Daniel (1825-1876), Jesse's wife Elizabeth (1825-1900), and his grandson, George B. Daniel (1863-1897) who emigrated to Argentina. The Daniel papers include a letter from the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge to "my very dear Cottie" in 1797.

Administrative / Biographical History

George Daniel was born in 1789. Though he made his main living as a businessman, he was also a writer and book collector. In his early years, he published squibs on Royal scandals, some of which were suppressed, and satirised contemporary poetasters in The modern Dunciad , 1814. He had a circle of literary friends, including Charles Lamb and Robert Bloomfield, and was also interested in the theatre, editing British Theatre (John Cumberland, London), 1823-1831, and Davison's Actable Drama . Daniel also wrote two farces for the Drury Lane Theatre, as well as numerous humorous and religious poems. At his residence, 18 Canonbury Square, London, he brought together a magnificent collection of Elizabethan books, black-letters ballads and theatrical curiosities, which were dispersed following his death in 1864.

Access Information

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Other Finding Aids

Box listed.

Archivist's Note

Separated Material

The British Library, London, holds a copy of The adventures of Dick Distich , 1807-1808 (Ref: Add MS 43793), and letters to the Royal Literary Fund, 1827-1857 (Ref: Loan 96); Edinburgh University Library has letters to James Halliwell Phillipps, 1841-1860 (Ref: LOA).

Conditions Governing Use

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Subjects