Richard Cobbold English writer Date of Birth: 01.01.1797 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Education
2. Clerical Career and Marriage
3. Financial Troubles and Literary Pursuits
4. The Vicar's Diary
5. Legacy and Death

Early Life and Education

Richard Cobbold was born into a large brewing family in Suffolk, England. He spent most of his life in the county, except for his time studying at Cambridge University.

Clerical Career and Marriage

Cobbold became a pastor and married Mary Anne Waller in 1822. They had three sons. In 1824, his father bought them the living of Wortham.

Financial Troubles and Literary Pursuits

To support his family, Cobbold sold his home in 1862 to King's College, Cambridge. He wrote several historical novels and tales with religious themes, including "The History of Margaret Catchpole: A Suffolk Girl" (1845) and "Zenon, the Martyr" (1847).

The Vicar's Diary

Cobbold's detailed diary, illustrated with his own drawings, became a valuable source of information about daily life in a Victorian village. In 1977, Ronald Fletcher edited selected entries into "The Biography of a Victorian Village," which was later adapted into a film.

Legacy and Death

Cobbold's health declined in his later years, as did his wife's. Mary Anne died on December 26, 1876, and Richard followed just a few days later on January 5, 1877. They are buried in Wortham.

Cobbold left behind a legacy of historical fiction, religious writings, and a unique glimpse into the lives of his parishioners through his diary.