Fitzgerald Edward

Fitzgerald, Edward (1809-1883), an English scholar born in Suffolk. At an early age he went to France, but in 1821 he was sent to Edward VI.'s grammar school at Bury St. Edmunds. In 1826 he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was contemporary and intimate with Thackeray and Thompson (afterwards Master of Trinity). Tennyson also was there at the time, but the two did not become acquainted till later. After taking his dege-ee he adopted a quiet country life, enjoying the acquaintance of the son of Crabbe the poet, Donne, Spedding, and Thackeray. He also formed an acquaintance with Tennyson and Carlyle. In 1852 he produced the two dialogues Euphranor and Polonius. He then began to study Spanish, translated Calderon's plays, and delighted in Bon Quixote.

In 1852 his attention was directed to Persian. He studied it enthusiastically under the direction of E. B. Cowell, and translated some of the Oriental poets. His translation of Omar Khayyam is perhaps his best-known work, and is very highly thought of. He had great powers of language, and treated his originals with much boldness, not however obscuring, but enhancing, if possible, their good qualities.