Isaac Walton – Famous Fisherman and Biographer

A Brief Biography of the Angler Famous For His Book on Fly Fishing

Nov 12, 2009

Isaac Walton is an English author who was born in 1593. He is famous for his book on fly fishing and his series of books on the lives of prominent contemporaries.

Born in Stafford on August 9th 1593, Isaac Walton, sometimes referred to as Izaak Walton, is famous as the man who wrote the book on fly fishing – The Compleat Angler. A staunch Royalist who fled London at the time of the Civil War, he spent much of his life in Staffordshire, fishing on the banks of the river Dove with his friend, Charles Cotton.

Isaac Walton’s Family Life

Walton’s early life is a mystery although he was known to have been born in Stafford on August 9th 1593. He spent some time living in London firstly in the Cornhill area of the City and then on Fleet Street. He was a member of the Company of Ironmongers but that doesn’t necessarily mean he was an ironmonger. One source, Chalmer’s Biographical Dictionary of the early 1800s, says he was a sempster or linen draper.

Walton married twice. His first wife, Rachel died fairly early on and is believed to have been related to Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. His second wife, Ann, was sister to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, poet and hymn writer, Dr. Thomas Ken. Ann bore Walton at least one daughter and one son.

His second wife must have been quite loved by Walton because when she died in April 1662, he arranged for a memorial tablet to be placed at Worcester Cathedral. The inscription on it describes Ann’s qualities thus: “… remarkable prudence, and of a primitive piety; her great and general knowledge being adorned with such true humility.”

Walton was a staunch Royalist and fled London back to Staffordshire at the time of the Civil War because he felt the city was too dangerous for him. When he had lived in London, he had regularly fished the river Lea that rises near Dunstable and enters the river Thames near Blackwell. Back in Staffordshire, he cast his rod into the river Dove which has one bank in Derbyshire, and the other in Staffordshire.

It was here that he probably wrote the first edition of his book The Compleat Angler which was published by Richard Marriot in 1653. This first edition had 246 pages and 13 chapters. In later years, he made friends with the fellow Royalist Charles Cotton, nearly 40 years his junior. Cotton wrote a treatise on fishing for trout or grayling which was added to the 5th edition of Walton’s book.

Other Works by Isaac Walton

Although Walton is most well known for writing his fishing book, he also penned a series of books on the lives of several of his contempories such as: Sir Henry Wotton the Provost of Eton College, George Herbert the metaphysical poet, priest and one time MP for Montgomeryshire and John Donne, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, also a metaphysical poet.

Isaac Walton lived to the grand old age of 90 and died at Winchester in December 1683 where he lies buried in the Silkstede Chapel of Winchester Cathedral. He is also honoured by a memorial bust in his likeness at St Mary’s Church, Stafford, which was unveiled by the Bishop of Lichfield in August 1878. As a final act of thoughtfulness, in his will, Walton remembered the publisher of his book on angling, Richard Marriot, and left him £10.00.

The copyright of the article Isaac Walton – Famous Fisherman and Biographer in Historical Biographies is owned by Elaine Findlay. Permission to republish Isaac Walton – Famous Fisherman and Biographer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.