Born in Dublin just over a century and a half ago, the Rev. Charles Maturin, although remembered now only by scholars, numbered among his admirers such famous writers as Victor Hugo, Byron, Scott and Rossetti. He distinguished himself early at Trinity, and, having entered the Church, became curate of Loughrea and afterwards of St. Peter's, Dublin. To increase his narrow income of £80 a year he prepared scholars for college and wrote an odd collection of literary "shockers" under the name of "Dennis Jaspar Murphy." In 1816 his tragedy "Bertram," was an unexpected success at Drury lane, and obtained influential praise. Fortune did not linger with him, however, and the later period of his life was a severe struggle for existence. The idiosyncrasies of this strange, gaunt Irishman are his chief claim to remembrance. It is said that during his brief period of popularity he became so fond of dancing that he ordered his windows to be shuttered by daylight so that he might indulge in the pastime by candlelight; that he painted his face with cosmetics; that he used to compose with a wafer pasted on his forehead as signal against interruption, and that he was so absent-minded as to appear in the street with a boot on one foot and a shoe on the other.
The Irish Times, January 13th, 1931