Surname: Askham Forename(s): John b. July 1825. d. 28 October 1894. Nationality: English. VIAF.
Working-class poet and shoemaker. Born 20 or 25 July 1825 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
Askham was largely self-educated and from a working-class family. Married Hannah Bonham
on 6 January 1847 and, after her death, Rebecca Eliza Cox on 22 May 1864. Contributed
poems to the Wellingborough Independent and was a correspondent for the Northampton Mercury. Author of Sonnets on the Months, and Other Poems (1863), Descriptive Poems (1866), Judith, and Other Poems (1868), Poems and Sonnets (1875), Sketches in Prose and Verse (1893). Influenced by John Clare. Founder of the Wellingborough Literary Institute
and elected a member of the school board in 1871. Biographical information: ODNB. (SP, AC)