List of Arthur O'Shaughnessy Quotes

Arthur O’Shaughnessy, A British Poet And Herpetologist, Is Best Remembered For His Evocative Poem “Ode,” Which Begins With The Celebrated Line “We Are The Music Makers.” Born On March 14, 1844, In London To Irish Parents, O’Shaughnessy Embarked On A Literary Journey That Intertwined With His Scientific Pursuits.

His Early Career At The British Museum As A Copyist Led To His Eventual Role As A Herpetologist, A Position That Influenced His Legacy Beyond Poetry. Despite His Scientific Inclinations, O’Shaughnessy Was Deeply Embedded In The Literary Circles Of His Time, Mingling With Figures Like Dante Gabriel Rossetti And Algernon Charles Swinburne. His Life Was Marked By Both Creative Triumphs And Personal Tragedies, Including The Loss Of His Wife And Children.

O’Shaughnessy’s Poetic Works Resonate With Themes Of Art And Imagination, Securing His Place In The Annals Of Victorian Literature.

Biography Details

• Full Name: Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy
• Birth: March 14, 1844, London, England
• Death: January 30, 1881, London, England
• Occupation: Poet And Herpetologist

Early Life And Education

• Born To Irish Parents In London.
• Father Passed Away When He Was Four Years Old.
• Raised By His Mother Who Was Supported By Novelist Charles Dickens.

Career

• British Museum:
• Joined As A Copyist At Age 17.
• Became A Herpetologist In The Zoological Department.
• Literary Career:
• Published Four Volumes Of Poetry:
  • An Epic Of Women (1870)
  • Lays Of France (1872)
  • Music And Moonlight (1874)
  • Songs Of A Worker (1881)[1][6].
• Collaborated With Wife Eleanor On Children’s Stories In Toyland (1875).

Personal Life

• Married Eleanor Kyme Marston In June 1873.
• Eleanor Was The Daughter Of Playwright John Westland Marston And Sister To Poet Philip Bourke Marston.
• Faced Personal Tragedies With The Early Deaths Of His Wife And Children.

Literary Influence And Style

• Associated With The Pre-Raphaelite Movement.
• Influenced By Contemporary French Poetry And Writers Like Victor Hugo.
• Known For Blending Themes Of Art And Work In His Poetry.

Notable Works

• “Ode”:
• Famous For Its Opening Line “We Are The Music Makers.”
• Celebrates Creativity And Its Impact On Society.

Scientific Contributions

• Recognized For Contributions To Herpetology.
• Several Reptile Species Named After Him:
• Calumma O’Shaughnessy (Madagascar Chameleon)
• Pachydactylus O’Shaughnessy (South African Lizard)
• Enyalioides O’Shaughnessy (Ecuadorian Lizard).

Legacy

• Despite Mixed Commercial Success During His Lifetime, O’Shaughnessy’s Work Has Endured Through Its Inclusion In Anthologies.
• His Poem “Ode” Remains Influential In Both Literary And Popular Culture.

Table: Key Publications And Contributions

Arthur O’Shaughnessy’s Life Exemplifies The Intersection Of Art And Science During The Victorian Era. His Poetic Contributions Continue To Inspire Readers With Their Imaginative Depth And Lyrical Beauty, While His Scientific Endeavors Underscore A Multifaceted Legacy That Transcends Literary Boundaries.