Biographicon is a cultural psychogeography of the Northern Enlightenment

“The Goths fancied that the souls of the illustrious dead were transmuted into flame; and that tomb-fires ascended from the graves of heroes, which became stars in the firmament. Such a transmutation the eminent really undergo by the record of their lives: thenceforth, like the lamps in cities, they blaze in the eyes of men, and guide the steps of each successive passenger along the nobler paths of human life.”

– William Taylor of Norwich

Latest Podcasts

01. What is Biographicon?

In this trailer, I introduce myself and the cast of characters that will appear in the upcoming Biographicon podcasts.

02. Psychogeography and Thomas Spence, with Alastair Bonnett

Be warned – you may risk arrest if you listen to this podcast! Join human geographer Alastair Bonnett on a psychogeographic tour of Newcastle upon Tyne seen through the mind of the radical Thomas Spence.

03. Joseph Ritson’s Revolution, with Jon Mee

Professor Jon Mee joins me in this episode to talk about the cantankerous northern antiquarian Joseph Ritson, the man who is responsible for making Robin Hood a champion of the poor.

04. Mind your grammar! Barbara Crosbie on Anne Fisher

In this episode, Barbara Crosbie and I talk about why modern English's first female grammarian Anne Fisher was such a trailblazer, and the work Barbara has done to revive interest in this significant northern figure.

05. The Ephemeral Tate Wilkinson, with Gillian Russell

In this episode, I talk with cultural historian Gillian Russell about Wilkinson, York and the ephemerality of eighteenth-century theatre and performance.

06. William Shield: no Geordie Dick Whittington, with Amélie Addison

In this episode Dr Amélie Addison reveals new findings about the prolific musician and composer William Shield.

07. William Newton and the North’s Rural Renaissance, with Richard Pears

Richard Pears and I discuss William Newton, arguably Northern England's first home-grown 'modern' architect.

08. Preach It! Rachel Hammersley on James Murray

In this episode Rachel Hammersley joins me in Newcastle’s Lit and Phil to talk about the Presbyterian preacher and writer James Murray who helped to radicalise the region.

09. The Muse and the Bard of Cumberland: Sue Allan on Susanna Blamire and Robert Anderson

In this double-bill episode independent scholar Dr Sue Allan discusses two of the most significant dialect poets of Georgian Northern England, the Cumbrians Susanna Blamire and Robert Anderson.

10. Sarah Hodgson a radical type, with Helen Williams

In this episode I am joined by Helen Williams, a specialist in eighteenth-century book history to find out about the Newcastle-born printer, newspaper editor and radical Sarah Hodgson.

News Updates

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UPCOMING: Canny Cunningham

Declan McCormack has been invited by the North East Forum in Eighteenth-Century and Romantic Studies to give a paper on the Irish actor and poet John Cunningham.

Friday 6 December 4-6pm, Newcastle University (Percy Building, room G.09)

UPCOMING: Richmond Players on the Boards

Richmond Civic Society public talk (25.3.25). Declan McCormack has been invited to give a talk about Samuel Butler’s Theatre Company at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Declan provided research material and advised on the Butler Company for the theatre’s new museum and visitor centre ’The Georgian Theatre Experience’ which won a White Rose Award upon opening. The ‘White Rose’ is the largest tourism event of its kind in the UK.

 

John Cunningham: Irish émigré, pastoral poet and player

Declan McCormack was invited to give a paper on the Irish poet and actor John Cunningham who made his living as a stroller in the North of England and Scotland at the Eighteenth-Century Ireland Society Annual Conference 2024  held at the University of Galway on 20-21 June  2024. The programme is available here

Latest Biographies

Ann Allan (1717-1785)

Ann Allan of Blackwell Grange was a prominent local philanthropist and friend to local personalities.

Ann Wheeler (1734-1804)

Ann Wheeler is a rare example of a Westmoreland dialect writer.

Anne Slack (née Fisher)(1719-1778)

Anne Slack was Britain's first modern English-language grammarian, an entrepreneur, and wife of Newcastle printer, Thomas Slack.

Charlotte Lowes / Deans (1768-1859)

Charlotte Lowes was a strolling player who worked across the north of England and left a valuable memoir of her career.

David Erskine Baker (1730-1767)

David Erskine Baker - actor, freemason and social mover

Francis Gentleman (1728-1784)

Francis Gentleman was an Irish actor, poet, playwright and critic.

Francis Gibson (1753-1805)

The Whitby collector of customs Francis Gibson was a poet, playwright and fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

George Allan (1736-1800)

Antiquary and printer George Allan was an influential cultural figure in the Northeast

George Cuit the Elder (1743-1818)

George Cuit the Elder painted landcapes for gentry familes in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

George Frederick Cooke (1756-1812)

Raised in Berwick-upon-Tweed George Frederick Cooke was “arguably the first true British romantic actor".