Lofft

Lofft, CAPEL, described by Byron in English Bards as 'the Mæcenas of shoemakers and preface-writer-general to distressed versemen; a kind of gratis accoucheur to those who wish to be delivered of rhyme, but do not know how to bring forth.' This description, though not the ill-nature of it, was so far just that Lofft was the patron of Bloomfield, and stood sponsor to his Farmer's Boy. Lofft himself was a London barrister of the Whig persuasion, with a taste for letters, especially poetry; he wrote some legal treatises and magazine articles, and books on theological, astronomical, political, and poetical subjects. All are now forgotten. He was born in London on 14th November 1751, and died at Moncalieri, near Turin, on 26th May 1824. See Gentleman's Magazine (1824).