Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hooton, Charles
HOOTEN, CHARLES (1813?–1847), novelist, born about 1813, edited for some time a newspaper in Leeds, but came to London about 1837, and published in ‘Bentley's Miscellany’ a novel called ‘Colin Clink’ (republished, with illustrations by John Leech, 3 vols. 1841). After producing two worthless skits, termed respectively ‘The True Sun’ and ‘The Woolsack,’ the one attacking political economy and the other the court of chancery, he left for Texas, where for nine months he led an almost savage life. He afterwards attempted newspaper work in New Orleans, New York, and Montreal, and then returned to England broken in mind and body. He wrote a series of ballads for the ‘New Monthly Magazine,’ illustrations of American life and literature, and a novel called ‘Launcelot Wedge,’ which was running in ‘Ainsworth's Magazine’ at the time of his death (republished, 3 vols. 1849). He died from an overdose of morphia at his residence in Nottingham on 16 Feb. 1847. Hooton wrote, besides the works already mentioned:
- ‘Adventures of B. Thirland,’ 1836.
- ‘St. Louis' Isle, or Texiana, with Additional Observations made in the United States and in Canada,’ 1847.
- ‘Woodhouselee, or the Astrologer,’ 3 vols. 1848.
[New Monthly Mag. March 1847, pp. 397–8; Gent. Mag. 1847, pt. i. pp. 442–3.]