LOVER, SAMUEL

born Feb. 24, 1797, Dublin, Ire. died July 6, 1868, St. Helier, Isle of Jersey Anglo-Irish novelist, songwriter, and painter. Privately educated, Lover fled his father's stockbroking office and became a successful painter, largely of portraits. He also wrote songs, notably Rory O'More (1826), which he also developed as a novel (1837) and a play (1837). His best known novel is Handy Andy (1842). After failing eyesight forced him to give up painting, he gave successful entertainments using his own writings in both Great Britain and North America.