Henry Pickford was born in Sheffield about 1806. His father, Mr. James Pickford, was an industrious, respectable, and pious man, by trade a saw grinder. Leaving school when about thirteen years of age, Henry Pickford began to work with his father at the trade of saw grinding. From that period he was self educated," except some little assistance rendered by the late Rev. Thos. Smith, A.M., Classical Tutor of Rotherham College (see elsewhere on this site) , and one or two other persons. His natural taste was for the acquisition of languages. He was, I believe, in a great degree animated in these pursuits by the laudable ambition of imitating that remarkable Sheffield man of whom we have just been hearing, the late Rev. Daniel Chapman. He pursued his studies, early and late, with characteristic ardour and considerable success. One day he very much astonished the attendants of the Bible Society's depot by applying to purchase a Chaldo-Syriac Testament . . .
This young man, though moving in the inferior walks of life, had, by persevering industry and diligence, attained to a considerable knowledge of various languages. The writer of this article well recollects the pleasing surprise which was created in his mind some two years since by the following circumstance, which led him to make further inquiries respecting him, and ever after to feel a lively interest about his progress and future prospects. Mr. Pickford happened to call upon him. Amongst other inquiries one was made whether he had ever read any of the Greek dramatic writers ? He replied in the negative ; but wishing to ascertain his proficiency in the reading of Greek, a request was made that he would recite a few lines from Sophocles, which was lying on the table. He did so ; not only correctly as it regarded the reading, but, after a little attention, rendered the passage into English in a manner very creditable to him. This circumstance is mentioned to show that the mind of this young man was of no ordinary kind, when, without friends, almost without assistance of any sort, and certainly without any regular or efficient education, in the midst too of a laborious daily occupation, he could attain to such a proficiency. He had acquired considerable knowledge of the Latin language. The writer has now in his possession many of his translations from various authors, several books of Juvenal, the whole of Persius, &etc. To Hebrew and to several of the Oriental languages he had paid much attention. Professor Lee (of Cambridge University), who had seen some of his translations, pronounced that they did him much credit. French, Italian, German, Spanish, also obtained a share of his attention. Under such circumstances a proposition was made, and through the kindness of friends nearly brought to a successful conclusion, that he should be sent to the University of Cambridge, and put in a way of honourably distinguishing himself by the fair exercise of those talents which God had bestowed upon him." One of the papers above referred to by Mr. Atkinson as having been sent to Professor Lee, consisted of a translation into one of the Oriental languages of a well-known personification of one of the four Seasons, I think "Spring," by Mrs. Barbauld. Henry Pickford was of a very amiable and cheerful disposition. Indeed, his exuberance of spirits, united with great fluency of speech, was apt, at seasons, to explode in uncontrollable fits of mirth, fun, and laughter. Some persons were inclined to regard such outbursts as indicative and proof of real habitual levity of mind. Such an opinion would certainly be a great mistake. Such occasions were simply the outward manifestation of one of Nature's kindly gifts. In fact it acted as a safety-valve. In July, 1830, seeing that his bodily and mental powers were kept at too great and constant a strain, I persuaded him, and he actually made arrangements, to accompany me to the Western coast, in order to enjoy what at the time he very much needed, an entire relaxation for some weeks. Unfortunately for him the saw trade, which had been dull, became brisk. His employers, therefore, pressed him very hard and earnestly to do all the work he possibly could ; and he, being anxious to get all the money he was able in prospect of the University, instead of going with me to the sea-side and inhaling the invigorating breezes of the ocean, stayed at home and exerted himself to the utmost; in one instance working all night, during a season of remarkably hot weather. He ere long found that he had to pay the penalty which physical laws exact on all, without distinction, who disregard or infringe them. That great exertion did him an irreparable injury, having eventually the effect of developing a latent tendency to consumption, so that from that time he only lived a year. Although during the succeeding months there were the usual alternations of hope and fear, cloud and sunshine, yet his earthly expectations were in reality blasted. His medical advisers were Dr. (afterwards Sir Arnold) Knight, and the late Mr. Wilson Overend ; but from the first they gave to his parents but slender hopes as to his recovery. It was my privilege to visit him during the whole course of his illness. He died in July, 1831, about 25 years of age. Amidst the eager and successful pursuit of literature he had not neglected the one thing needful. He was a young intelligent, and sincere Christian, and purposed devoting his talents and his life to the service of his Lord and Master. Relying on Divine mercy through the atonement and intercession of Christ, his end was peace. Respecting him nothing can be more appropriate than the lines of Mrs. Hemans : " The ethereal fire hath shivered The fragile censer in whose mould it quivered, Brightly, consumingly."
1 Comment
sue Gordon
9/23/2018 07:03:15 am
I have an oil painting of Henry Pickford as he was a relative of mine and l am trying to research the Pickford family so was very interested to find this article!
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Sheffield branch of the Classical Association, founded in 1920
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