Old Humphrey

George Mogridge (17 February 1787 – 2 November 1854) was a 19th-century writer, poet and author of children's books and religious tracts. He is chiefly known by his pseudonym of Old Humphrey, under which name he published 46 works, but also used the pen-names "Jeremy Jaunt", "Ephraim Holding", "Peter Parley" and "Old Father Thames". He wrote approximately 200 published works, many of which are still in publication today, and at the time of his death it was estimated that over 15 million copies of his writings were in circulation.

Early life

George Mogridge was born in Ashted, Birmingham, on 17 February 1787, the son of Matthias Mogridge, a canal agent. His grandfather, Anthony Mogridge, was the Vicar of Kimbolton, Worcestershire. His Uncle, John Phillips, was also a vicar, so the family had strong religious tendencies which were to influence many of George's later writings. His friend and biographer, Charles Williams, noted that George, as a child, was 'taught to occupy and amuse himself', a trait which led him, unattended, to explore a local building site, where he suffered severe injuries falling into the newly dug foundations, leaving him with a scar on his forehead which he would bear for the rest of his life.

In early childhood he attended the village Dame school, then was later enrolled at Boarcote school, Bromsgrove, where he was not happy. He taught himself to swim after witnessing a man drowning, and eventually used this skill to rescue a fellow-pupil from a similar fate.

At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a Japanner (varnisher) in Birmingham, and eventually started his own japanning business in partnership with his brother, in Lancaster Street, Birmingham.