Old Humphrey

author

Old Humphrey

1787–1854

A prolific Victorian writer of children's books and religious tracts, he published under the warm, familiar pen name "Old Humphrey" and reached a wide popular audience. His work mixed moral instruction with an easy, approachable style that made him especially well known in 19th-century Britain.

3 Audiobooks

History, Manners, and Customs of the North American Indians

History, Manners, and Customs of the North American Indians

by Old Humphrey

Soldiers and Sailors

Soldiers and Sailors

by Old Humphrey

The Sabbath Breaker Reclaimed; or, a pleasing history of Thomas Brown

The Sabbath Breaker Reclaimed; or, a pleasing history of Thomas Brown

by Old Humphrey

About the author

Born George Mogridge on February 17, 1787, he became best known by the pseudonym Old Humphrey. He was a highly productive English writer, remembered especially for children's books, short moral tales, poems, and religious tracts.

Mogridge wrote for a broad popular readership and is often noted for the sheer volume of his output. In addition to Old Humphrey, he also used other pen names, including Jeremy Jaunt, Ephraim Holding, Peter Parley, and Old Father Thames.

He died on November 2, 1854. Though not as widely read now as in his own time, he remains an interesting figure in Victorian popular literature for the way he combined instruction, entertainment, and accessible storytelling.