Robert Stephen Hawker was born on March 3, 1803, in Cornwall, England. He was the son of a prominent physician and grew up in a privileged household. From a young age, Hawker showed a deep interest in literature and poetry, spending hours reading and writing in his father's library.
After completing his early education, Hawker went on to study at Pembroke College, Oxford. It was during his time at Oxford that his talent for poetry truly blossomed. In 1827, Hawker was awarded the prestigious Newdigate Prize for poetry, marking the beginning of his successful career as a poet.
Following his graduation, Hawker began to gain recognition for his poetic works. In 1825, he published his most famous work, The Song of the Western Men, which celebrated the culture and traditions of his beloved Cornwall. The poem garnered widespread acclaim and solidified Hawker's reputation as a talented poet.
Throughout his career, Hawker continued to write and publish poetry, with works such as Echoes from Old Cornwall and Tendrils showcasing his lyrical and evocative style. His poems often drew inspiration from the rugged landscapes and folklore of Cornwall, capturing the beauty and magic of the region.
Despite his success as a poet, Hawker was known for his eccentric personality. He had a penchant for quirky habits, such as dressing up as a mermaid and keeping a pet pig. One of his most famous eccentricities was the alleged excommunication of his own cat, whom he believed was breaking the Sabbath by hunting mice on Sundays.
In his personal life, Hawker had unconventional relationships. His first wife, Charlotte, was significantly older than him, but their marriage was a happy and supportive one. After Charlotte's death, Hawker shocked society by marrying Pauline Kuczynski, a woman forty years his junior. The couple went on to have three daughters, despite the scandal surrounding their age difference.
Robert Stephen Hawker's contributions to literature were immense and enduring. His poems celebrated the unique culture and traditions of Cornwall, preserving them for generations to come. Hawker's talent was acknowledged by his contemporaries, with renowned author Charles Dickens crediting him for The Song of the Western Men, a poem that had initially been wrongly attributed to another writer.
Although Hawker passed away in 1875, his legacy lives on in his poetry and writings. He is remembered as a visionary poet who captured the spirit of Cornwall in his works and an eccentric personality who defied societal norms. Robert Stephen Hawker remains a beloved figure in the world of literature, his words continuing to inspire and enchant readers around the world.