Leigh Hunt Brown Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Leigh Hunt was a renowned English essayist, poet, and literary critic who lived from 1784 to 1859. He was a central figure in the Romantic movement and a close friend and collaborator of poets like Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Hunt is best known for his essays, which covered a wide range of topics from politics and religion to literature and theater. His writing style was witty, insightful, and often ahead of its time in its progressive views. Some of his most famous works include “The Story of Rimini,” “Abou Ben Adhem,” and his autobiography “Lord Byron and Some of His Contemporaries.”

In addition to his own writing, Hunt played a significant role in shaping the literary landscape of his era as an editor and publisher. He co-founded and edited influential periodicals like The Examiner and The Liberal, which provided platforms for emerging writers and helped popularize the works of the Romantic poets.

Hunt resided at 22 Upper Cheyne Row in the fashionable Chelsea neighborhood of London from 1833 until his death in 1859. During this time, Chelsea was a bohemian enclave that attracted many artists and intellectuals. Hunt’s home became a gathering place for London’s literary elite, cementing his status as a central figure in the city’s cultural scene. The Borough of Kensington and Chelsea continues to honor Hunt’s legacy and lasting impact on English literature with this memorial plaque, erected in 1905, that marks his former residence.