Edwin Paxton HoodEnglish nonconformist Edwin Paxton Hood (1820–1885) was also a writer, biographer, and novelist. Hood continued a prosperous career in literature and religion despite the early death of his parents. In the 1840s, he started giving lectures on temperace and peace; subsequently, he was ordained as a congregational preacher. Hood had a variety of pastoral posts in places including Manchester, Islington, Brighton, and Gloucestershire. Hood, a well-known liberal with a political agenda to match, participated actively in social and political concerns of the day. He spoke out in favor of social justice, peace, and temperance, addressing issues like child labor, education, and better working conditions. Hood covered a broad variety of topics in his works, including poetry, fiction, history, religion, and biography. He wrote well-known books like "Isaac Watts: His Life and Writings, His Homes and Friends," which gave readers an understanding of the well-known hymn writer's life and achievements. Hood had relationships with different regions of Jamaica and England, and he was married three times. On June 12, 1885, he died dead unexpectedly in Paris, leaving behind a legacy as a prolific author, fervent preacher, and supporter of social change. Read More Read Less
