Walter Savage Landor

1775-1864

Also buried here are Arthur Hugh Clough and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning.

Landor wanted to be buried at Widcombe near Bath, Somerset but at the age of 83 he was obliged to leave the country to escape an action for libel. (This was not the first time he had had to leave England due to legal proceedings.)

His children had disowned him and he fled to Florence where he was assisted by Robert  Browning. Landor's daughter is reputed to have said to Browning: " If my father lay dying in that ditch, I would not lift a finger to save him".

Gravestone of Walter Landor

Throughout his life Landor was renowned for his fiery temperament.

Landor spent his last years on the Via Della Chiesa being cared for by Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's former maid Elizabeth Wilson. He died on the 17 September, 1864 aged 89.

Landor had previously lived in Italy from 1815 to 1835 - until separating from his wife Julia Thuiller.

His collections of poetry include: Poems (1795) Gebir (1798) and Simonidea (1806).

Charles Dickens based the character of Boythorn in Bleak House on Landor.

Links:

The English Cemetery Florence

Help to save the English Cemetery

Click here to buy poetry by Walter Savage Landor