William Henry Giles Kingston was born in Harley Street, London on 28 February 1814. He was the eldest son of Lucy Henry Kingston (d.1852) and his wife Frances Sophia Rooke (b.1789), daughter of Sir Giles Rooke, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Kingston's paternal grandfather John Kingston (1736–1820) was a Member of Parliament who staunchly supported the Abolition of the Slave Trade, despite having a plantation in Demerara. His father Lucy entered into the wine business in Oporto,[1] and Kingston lived there for many years, making frequent voyages to England and developing a lifelong affection for the sea.
He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and afterwards entered his father's wine business, but soon indulged in his natural bent for writing. His newspaper articles on Portugal were translated into Portuguese, and assisted the conclusion of the commercial treaty with Portugal in 1842, when he received from Donna Maria da Gloria an order of Portuguese knighthood and a pension.
His first book was The Circassian Chief, a story published in 1844. While still living in Oporto, he wrote The Prime Minister, a historical novel based loosely on the life of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, and Lusitanian Sketches, descriptions of travels in Portugal.[2] Settling in England, he interested himself in the emigration movement, edited The Colonist and The Colonial Magazine and East India Review in 1844, was honorary secretary of a colonisation society, wrote Some Suggestions for a System of General Emigration in 1848, lectured on colonisation in 1849, published a manual for colonists entitled How to Emigrate in 1850, and visited the western highlands on behalf of the emigration commissioners. He was afterwards a zealous volunteer and worked actively for the improvement of the condition of seamen.[2] But from 1850, his chief occupation was writing books for boys, or editing boys' annuals and weekly periodicals. He started the Union Jack, a paper for boys, only a few months before his death. His stories number more than a hundred; the best known are:
Cover of In the Rocky Mountains written by W. H. G. Kingston
Peter the Whaler, 1851
Blue Jackets, 1854
Digby Heathcote, 1860
The Cruise of the Frolic, 1860
The Fireships, 1862
The midshipman Marmaduke Merry, 1863
Foxholme Hall, 1867
Ben Burton, 1872
The Three Midshipmen, 1873
The Three Lieutenants, 1876
The Three Commanders, 1876
The Three Admirals, 1878
Kidnapping in the Pacific, 1879
Hendriks the Hunter, 1884
He travelled widely on the ordinary routes of travel, and described his experience for the young in:
Western Wanderings. Or, a pleasure tour in the Canadas, 1856
My Travels in Many Lands, 1862 (France, Italy and Portugal)
"In The Eastern Seas", 1871
The Western World, 1874
A Yacht Voyage round England, 1879
His popular records of adventure and of discovery included:
Captain Cook: His Life, Voyages, and Discoveries, 1871
Great African Travellers, 1874
Popular History of the Navy, 1876
Notable Voyages from Columbus to Parry, 1880
Adventures in the Far West, 1881
Adventures in Africa, 1883
Adventures in India, 1884
Adventures in Australia, 1885
Travels of Dr. Livingstone (also known as Livingstone's Travels), 1886
Travels of Mungo Park, Denham and Clapperton, 1886
He published translations of several of Jules Verne's stories from the French (see below on the actual translator), and wrote many historical tales dealing with almost all periods and countries, from Eldol the Druid (1874) and Jovinian, a tale of Early Papal Rome (1877) downwards, and undertook some popular historical compilations such as Half-Hours with the Kings and Queens of England (1876).
He rewrote Richard Johnson's 1596 book The Seven Champions of Christendom to bring the language into more contemporary English.
His writings occupy nine pages and a half of the British Museum Catalogue. They were very popular; his tales were quite innocuous, but most of them proved ephemeral. Feeling his health failing, he wrote a farewell letter on 2 August 1880 in touching terms to the boys for whom he had written so much and so long, and died three days later at Stormont Lodge, Willesden, near London.[3][4]
On 4 August 1853, Kingston married Agnes Kinloch, daughter of Captain Charles Kinloch of the 52nd Light Infantry who had served in the Peninsular Warasaide-de-camptoGeneral Sir John Hope. Their honeymoon was spent in Canada, where Kingston acquired the background for many of his later novels, and they spent their first Christmas at Quebec City with the family of William Collis Meredith, Chief Justice of Quebec. Agnes Kinloch was privately educated, as was the custom of the time. She sang well, was an accomplished musician, studied art and languages in Europe, and spoke both French and German fluently, a skill which was to be of benefit during her husband's later financial troubles. She bore her husband eight children but all died early, and this branch of the family is now extinct.[5]
Kingston's brother George Kingston (1816–1886) was a Canadian professor, meteorologist, author, and public servant. He has been called the father of Canadian Meteorology for successfully promoting and organising one of Canada's first national scientific services.
Financial troubles and translations of Jules Verne[edit]
Beginning in 1860, Kingston suffered a number of financial reverses resulting from his publishing activities and, by 1868, he was very nearly bankrupt. In fact, he was forced to accept a grant of £50 from the Royal Literary Fund and, a few months later, £100 from the Queen's Civil List. The financial troubles continued and resulted in Kingston living as a recluse during the last ten years of his life.
Beginning in the 1870s, Kingston entered into a contract with publishers Sampson Low and Marston to translate some works of French author Jules Verne. These are the works for which Kingston is most remembered today. They were all published under his name, but the translations were actually done by his wife Agnes Kinloch Kingston.[6] This fact was generally known in literary circles, and actually mentioned in Mrs. Kingston's obituary in 1913, but it was apparently forgotten until it was revived in the 20th Century edition of the Dictionary of National Biography in 2004.[1] The Verne books which Mrs. Kingston translated are:
The Mysterious Island, Sampson Low et al., 3 volumes: 1875, reprinted by Scribner, Armstrong, & Co., New York, 1 volume: 1876
Michael Strogoff, Sampson Low et al.: 1876, reprinted by Scribner, Armstrong, & Co., "revised by Julius Chambers": 1877
Kingston died at his family home at 3 Brondesbury Villas, Willesden, Middlesex on 5 August 1880, and his death was registered four days later by H. C. Kingston, "present at the death". The cause of death was cited on his death certificate as "Cancer of Kidney, Time not known, Certified by J. F. Anderson MD."
His first book The Circassian Chief appeared in 1844. His first book for boys Peter the Whaler was published in 1851 and had such success that he retired from business and devoted himself entirely to the production of this kind of literature and, during 30 years, he wrote upwards of 130 tales, including:
He also wrote a tale about the notorious outlaw Ninco Nanco called Ninco Nanco, The Neapolitan Brigand, from Foxholme Hall.
He also conducted various papers, including The Colonist and Colonial Magazine and East India Review. He was also interested in emigration, volunteering, and various philanthropic schemes. He received a Portuguese knighthood for services in negotiating a commercial treaty with Portugal, and a Government pension for his literary labours.
Jack Buntline: or, Life on the Ocean. 1 vol. London: Sampson Low, 1861.
The Fire-Ships: A Tale of the Last Naval War. 3 vol. London: Sampson Low, 1862.
True Blue: or, The Life and Adventures of a British Seaman of the Old School. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1862.
Marmaduke Merry the Midshipman: or, My Early Days at Sea. 1 vol. London: W. Kent and Co., 1862.
Adventures of Dick Onslow among the Red Skins. 1 vol. London: Dean and Son, 1863.
The Three Midshipmen. 1 vol. London: Routledge, 1863.
Tales for all ages. 1 vol. London: Bickers and Bush, 1863.
The Log House by the Lake: A Tale of Canada. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1864.
The Gilpins and their Fortunes: An Australian Tale. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1865.
Philip Mavor: or, Life amongst the Kaffirs. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1865.
Rob Nixon, the Old White Trapper: A Tale of Central British North America. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1865.
Antony Waymouth: or, The Gentlemen Adventurers. A Chronicle of the Sea. 1 vol. London: Frederick Warne, 1865.
Mountain Moggy: or, The Stoning of the Witch. A Tale for the Young. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1866.
Washed Ashore: or, The Tower of Stormount Bay. 1 vol. London: Jackson, Walford and Hodder, 1866.
My First Cruise. 1 vol. London: Cassell, 1866.
Foxholme Hall: A Legend of Christmas and Other Amusing Tales for Boys. 1 vol. London: Virtue, 1867.
Paul Gerrard, the Cabin Boy. 1 vol. London: Routledge, 1867.
Ralph Clavering: or, We must try before we can do. 1 vol. London: Frederick Warne, 1867.
Three Hundred Years Ago: or, The Martyr of Brentwood. 1 vol. London: Partridge, 1868.
Count Ulrich von Lindburg: A Tale of the Reformation in Germany. 1 vol. London: Partridge, 1868.
The Perils and Adventures of Harry Skipwith by Sea and Land. 1 vol. London: Virtue, 1868.
The Pirates' Treasure: A Legend of Panama. 1 vol. London: Virtue, 1868.
The Last Look: A Tale of the Spanish Inquisition. 1 vol. London: Partridge, 1869.
Our Fresh and Salt Water Tutors: A Story of that Good Old Time Our School Days at the Cape. 1 vol. London: Sampson Low, 1869.
Adrift in a Boat. 1 vol. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1869.
The Royal Merchant: or, Events in the Days of Sir Thomas Gresham. 1 vol. London: Partridge, 1870.
John Deane of Nottingham: His Adventures and Exploits. A Tale of the Times of William of Orange and Queen Anne. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1870.
Sunshine Bill. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1870.
At the South Pole: or, The Adventures of Richard Pengelley, Mariner. 1 vol. London: Cassell, 1870.
Little Ben Hadden: or, Do Right, Whatever Comes of It. 1 vol. London: R. T. S., 1870.
Off to Sea: or, The Adventures of Jovial Jack Junker on his Road to Fame. 1 vol. London: Cassell, 1870.
In the Eastern Seas: or, The Regions of the Bird of Paradise. A Tale for Boys. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1871.
In the Wilds of Africa: A Tale for Boys. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1871.
A True Hero: or, The Story of William Penn. 1 vol. London: Sunday School Union, 1871.
On the Banks of the Amazon: or, A Boy's Journal of his Adventures in the Tropical Wilds of South America. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1872.
The Fortunes of the "Ranger" and "Crusader": A Tale of Two Ships, and the Adventures of their Passengers and Crews. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1872.
Ben Burton: or, Born and Bred at Sea. 1 vol. London: Sampson Low, 1872.
The Trapper's Son. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1873.
The African Trader: or, The Adventures of Harry Bayford. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1873.
Michael Penguyne: or, Fisher Life on the Cornish Coast. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1873.
Janet M'Laren: or, The Faithful Nurse. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1873.
The History of Little Peter the Ship-boy. 1 vol. London: R. T. S., 1873.
Archibald Hughson, the Young Shetlander. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1873.
Waihoura: or, The New Zealand Girl. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1873.
Mary Liddiard: or, The Missionary's Daughter. A Tale of the Pacific. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1873.
The Woodcutter of Gutech. 1 vol. London: R. T. S., 1873.
Milicent Courtenay's Diary: or, The Experiences of a Young Lady at Home and Abroad. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1873.
The Heroic Wife: or, The Wanderers on the Amazon. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1874.
Tales of the Sea. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1874.
The Two Shipmates. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1874.
Roger Kyffin's Ward. 1 vol. London: Routledge, 1874.
The Merchant of Haarlem: A Tale of King Philip's Reign in the Netherlands. 1 vol. London: Partridge, 1874.
Eldol the Druid: or, The Dawn of Christianity in Britain. 1 vol. London: Partridge, 1874.
Charley Laurel: A Story of Adventure by Sea and Land. 1 vol. London: Sunday School Union, 1874.
Hurricane Hurry: or, The Adventures of a Naval Officer Afloat and on Shore during the American War of Ind. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1874.
The Three Lieutenants: or, Naval Life in the Nineteenth Century. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1875.
The Settlers: A Tale of Virginia. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1875.
The South Sea Whaler: A Story of the Loss of the "Champion" and the Adventures of her Crew. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1875.
The Child of the Wreck: or, The Loss of the Royal George. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1876.
The Three Commanders: or, Active Service Afloat in Modern Days. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1876.
Twice Lost: A Story of Shipwreck, and of Adventure in the Wilds of Australia. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1876.
Snow-Shoes and Canoes: or, The Early Days of a Fur-trader in the Hudson's Bay Territory. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1876.
The Young Rajah: A Story of Indian Life and Adventure. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1876.
The Wanderers: or, Adventures in the Wilds of Trinidad and up the Orinoco. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1876.
Saved from the Sea: or, The Loss of the "Viper," and the Adventures of her Crew in the Great Sahara. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1876.
Yachting Tales. 1 vol. London: Hunt & Co., 1877.
Clara Maynard: or, The True and the False. A Tale of the Times. 1 vol. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1877.
Jovinian: or, The Early Days of Papal Rome. A Tale. 1 vol. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1877.
The Voyage of the "Steadfast": or, The Young Missionaries in the Pacific. 1 vol. London: R. T. S., 1877.
The Young Llanero: A Story of War and Wild Life in Venezuela. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1877.
The Missing Ship. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1877.
Owen Hartley: or, Ups and Downs. A Tale of the Land and Sea. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1877.
With Axe and Rifle: or, The Western Pioneers. 1 vol. London: Sampson Low, 1878.
The Three Admirals, and the Adventures of their Young Followers. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1878.
In the Rocky Mountains: A Tale of Adventure. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1878.
The Two Supercargoes: or, Adventures in Savage Africa. 1 vol. London: Sampson Low, 1878.
The Mate of the "Lily": or, Notes from Harry Musgrave's Log Book. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1878.
Ned Garth: or, Made Prisoner in Africa. A Tale of the Slave Trade. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1878.
The Frontier Fort: or, Stirring Times in the Northwest Territory of British America. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1879.
The Rival Crusoes. 1 vol. London: Griffith and Farran, 1879.
Kidnapping in the Pacific: or, The Adventures of Boas Ringdon. A Long Yarn in Four Lengths. 1 vol. London: Routledge, 1879.
In New Granada: or, Heroes and Patriots. A Tale for Boys. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Nelson and Sons, 1879.
The Cruise of the Dainty, 1880
The Boy who Sailed with Blake: and, The Orphans. 1 vol. London: Sunday School Union, 1880.
Voyages and Travels of Count Funnibos and Baron Stilkin. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1880.
Dick Cheveley: His Adventures and Misadventures. 1 vol. London: Sampson Low, 1880.
Norman Vallery: or, How to Overcome Evil with Good. 1 vol. Edinburgh: Gall & Inglis, 1880.
The Ferryman of Brill and Other Stories. 1 vol. London: Cassell, 1880.
The Young Berringtons: or, The Boy Explorers. 1 vol. London: Cassell, 1880.
The Lily of Leyden. 1 vol. London: S. P. C. K., 1880.
The Two Voyages: or, Midnight and Daylight. 1 vol. London: R. T. S., 1881.
Adventures in the Far West. 1 vol. London: Routledge, 1881.
Roger Willoughby: or, The Times of Benbow. A Tale of the Sea and Land. 1 vol. London: James Nisbet, 1881.
The Heir of Kilfinnan: A Tale of the Shore and Ocean. 1 vol. London: Sampson Low, 1881.
Peter Biddulph: The Rise and Progress of an Australian Settler. 1 vol. London: Sunday School Union, 1881.
Peter Trawl: or, The Adventures of a Whaler. 1 vol. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1881.
James Braithwaite, the Supercargo: The Story of his Adventures Ashore and Afloat. 1 vol. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1882.
^Boy's Own Paper, 11 September 1880, which contains his portrait; preface to his novel James Braithwaite, 1882; Athenaeum, 14 August 1880; Times, 10 August 1880.
^Dictionary of National Biography, Vol 22 (Supplement), Oxford University Press, London: 1922
^The Life, Work, and Influence of W. H. G. Kingston, M. R. Kingsford, Ryerson Press, Toronto: 1947.
^In 1943, M. R. Kingsford inherited the diaries of Kingston and his wife Agnes from the last living family descendant, material which he used for his B.Litt thesis at Oxford and which was later published in this biography. The diaries of Mrs. Kingston provided conclusive proof that she was the translator of the Verne works, the Swiss Family Robinson, and in fact of all the other translations attributed to W. H. G. Kingston. The Life, Work, and Influence of W. H. G. Kingston, M. R. Kingsford, Ryerson Press, Toronto: 1947.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London: J. M. Dent & Sons – via Wikisource.
