Frederic Weatherly

Frederic Edward Weatherly (4 October 1848 – 7 September 1929) was an English lawyer, author, lyricist and broadcaster. He is estimated to have written the lyrics to at least 3,000 popular songs, among the best-known of which are the sentimental ballad Danny Boy set to the tune Londonderry Air, the religious "The Holy City", and the wartime song "Roses of Picardy".

Biography

Frederic Weatherly was born and brought up in Portishead, Somerset, the eldest son in the large family of Frederick Weatherly (1820–1910), a medical doctor, and his wife, Julia Maria, née Ford (1823–98). He was educated at Hereford Cathedral School from 1859 to 1867, and won a scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford in 1867.Pickles John D., , Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edition, Oxford University Press, September 2004, accessed 29 Aug 2010. Among his tutors was Walter Pater, who taught him about Italian art. Weatherly entered three times for the Newdigate Prize for poetry, but without success.The Times obituary, 9 September 1929, p....
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