Henry Simpson (Poets' Club founder)
Henry Simpson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Canonbury, London, England |
| Died | November 20, 1960 (aged 92) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, poet |
| Known for | Founder and president of the Poets' Club |
Henry Simpson (22 October 1868 – 20 November 1960) was a banker who established and led the Poets' Club in London, founded in 1908.
Early life and education
Born in Canonbury, London, Simpson was the son of Archibald Simpson, a physician, and Agnes Simpson (née Forbes), who was descended from the Lord Forbes of Pitsligo. His family included the notable Scottish architect Archibald Simpson as his great uncle. He spent his upbringing in Aberdeen and attended the Royal High School, Edinburgh for his education.
Career
Following his schooling, Simpson worked for four years at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh before relocating to London. There, he took up a managerial role at the Westminster branch of the Capital and Counties Bank.
In March 1908, Simpson played a key role in founding the Poets' Club and became its inaugural president. Starting with nine members convening in Soho, this literary group was distinguished as the first to include women among its ranks. The club released poetry collections that featured Simpson’s compositions alongside those by poets such as Ezra Pound and T. E. Hulme.
Simpson’s poetry was published internationally across various newspapers and literary journals. He authored three poetry collections: A Faery Flute (1909), noted for its vivid imagery and eloquent language; The Golden Rose and Other Poems (1917), which explored themes related to wartime with patriotic undertones; and Lauds and Loves (1930), introduced by writer Gilbert Frankau.
As a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Simpson was honored with a Lifetime Fellowship recognizing his poetic achievements. He also contributed ten years to the society’s council, fulfilling the role of honorary treasurer.
At ninety years old, he continued serving as president when the Poets' Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1958. He passed away two years later, leaving behind his wife and three children.