Rd blackmore biography

Richard Doddridge Blackmore
(1825-1900)
Born: 7th June 1825 at Longworth, Berkshire
Author
Died: 20th January 1900 at Teddington, Middlesex

Richard Doddridge was the son of John Blackmore, the curate-in-charge of Longworth in Berkshire.

Sadly, his mother died during an outbreak of typhus only a few months after his birth.

Rd blackmore biography

Richard was brought up by his aunt, Mary Frances Knight, and her husband, Rev. Richard Gordon, at Elsfield in Oxfordshire; while his father returned to Devon, his childhood home. Richard only joined him in Culmstock, when he remarried in 1831.

From the age of twelve, Richard was educated at Blundell�s School in Tiverton.

Excelling in classical studies, he eventually won a scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, from where he graduated in 1847. It was during his holidays from university that he made his first attempt at writing. He began a novel called 'The Maid of Sker' although it remained unfinished for many years. 

After leaving Oxford, Rich