Hood, Thomas (1799-1845), was an English poet and humorist. His best-known poems, “The Song of the Shirt” and “The Bridge of Sighs,” expressed love and pity for suffering humanity. He wrote these poems during his last illness.
Hood was born on May 23, 1799, in London, and was trained to be an engraver. He edited the Comic Annual, Hood’s Own, and Hood’s Magazine. He ruined his health by working too hard writing humorous material for these publications. He was fond of punning, and said, “So that I may earn my livelihood I have to be a lively Hood.” He died on May 3, 1845.
