History

William Gifford, critic and editor of the Quarterly Review, is buried in the south transept of Westminster Abbey. His great friend John Ireland, Dean of Westminster, was buried with him. The gravestone was renewed in 1863 and the inscription reads:

"William Gifford Esq. died December 31st 1826 in the 71st year of his age"

He was the son of Edward Gifford, a glazier from Ashburton in Devon and worked as an apprentice to a shoemaker before he was sent to Oxford through the generosity of a friend. He tutored Lord Grosvenor's son and published some volumes of poetry. William also translated the satires of Juvenal and Persius and edited works of various poets including Jonson. He was a controller of the lotteries and paymaster of the Band of Gentleman Pensioners. He died unmarried.

A photo of the stone can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library.