William Stewart Rose

William Stewart Rose (1775–1843) was a British poet, translator and Member of Parliament, who held Government offices. From a Tory background, he was well-connected in the political and literary world, and made a mark by his championing of Italian poets and a burlesque style of verse based on their influence as satirists. Life Rose was born the second son of George Rose of Cuffnells near Lyndhurst in Hampshire, a senior civil servant and MP, and his wife Theodora Duer; George Henry Rose was his elder brother. He was educated at Hyde Abbey School under Charles Richards, and Eton College. He matriculated at St John's College, Cambridge in 1794, leaving without a degree, and entered Lincoln's Inn in 1796. He was uncle to Hugh Rose, 1st Baron Strathnairn, Sir William Rose and the Countess of Morton. Rose was successively appointed Surveyor of Green-wax Monies (1797–1800), Clerk of Pleas at the Exchequer (1797–1837) and Reading Clerk to the House of Lords (1800–1824). He was also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Christchurch from 1796 to 1800, partnering his father. His post as Clerk of Pleas was considered by William Cobbett to be a sinecure; and Nathaniel Wraxall saw Rose's appointments as an example of his father's nepotism. In any case Rose treated all his posts as sinecures. During 1814–5 Rose travelled in continental Europe, while Napoleon was on Elba. On this trip he suffered an attack of apoplexy in Verona, reported in a letter of Countess of Albany to Ugo Foscolo, saying he had lost the use of one side, and had gone to the baths at Abano Terme. Rose helped Foscolo come to the United Kingdom in 1816, enlisting the support of Stratford Canning. In 1817 Rose went to the Veneto, for about a year.