Lover, SAMUEL,

Lover, SAMUEL, artist, novelist, song-writer, and dramatist, was born in Dublin, the son of a Protestant stockbroker, 24th February 1797. In 1818, after three years' study, he established himself there as a marine-painter and miniaturist; and to about the same date belongs his début in literature, though it was not till 1832 that his first book appeared, Legends and Stories of Ireland, illustrated, like many of its successors, with his own etchings. Rory O'More (1836) at once became popular, and, as dramatised by him, ran through 108 nights; still, its success has been quite eclipsed by Handy Andy (1842), a rollicking story of Irish life. Meanwhile, in 1837, Lover settled in London, and wrote much for the periodicals, till, in 1844, his eyesight beginning to fail, he started an entertainment, called 'Irish Evenings,' which was a hit both at home and in America (1846-48). In 1856 he received a pension; and he died at St Helier, Jersey, 6th July 1868. Of his songs may be mentioned 'The Angel's Whisper,' 'Molly Bawn,' 'The Lowbacked Car,' and 'The Four-leaved Shamrock.' See Lives by Bernard (1874) and Symington (1880).