Ann Elizabeth Heraud (d. 1867): Daughter of Henry Baddams (1776–1842); she married John Abraham Heraud on 15 May 1823 and the couple had six children, one of whom, Edith Heraud (d. 1899), an actress, wrote a Memoir of her father (1898).

William Hazlitt (1778–1830): Writer and painter. He first met Southey in 1803, whilst in the Lakes on a commission from Sir George Beaumont to paint Coleridge, Hartley Coleridge and Wordsworth. Their relationship was, though, to be conducted largely in the public sphere, via the medium of newspapers and reviews. The catalyst for so public a relationship was undoubtedly Southey’s appointment as Poet Laureate in September 1813. Over the next decade or so Hazlitt produced a series of reviews and essays devoted to Southey and his works.

Robert Southey Hill (1817–1872): The youngest child of Herbert Hill and his wife Catherine; he was named after his first cousin Robert Southey. In later life he became a doctor and botanist.

Errol Hill (1812–1844): Third son of Herbert and Catherine Hill; a clergyman and Fellow of New College, Oxford. He was reputed to have proposed marriage to Southey’s daughter Katherine (Kate), but was turned down.

Richard Heber (1774–1833): Book-collector. Son of Reginald Heber, clergyman and landowner. Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford (BA 1796, MA, 1797). Heber edited some minor classical writers, but his main interest was his book collection, which finally totalled over 100,000 volumes housed in eight different locations. Though he concentrated on early English poetry and drama his library included classical works and a wide selection of European and Latin American literature. Heber was exceptionally generous in lending his books, and let Southey use his copy of Amadis of Gaul.

Margaret (known as ‘Peggy’ and, occasionally, ‘Margery’) Hill (d. 1801): Southey’s cousin, probably the daughter of his mother’s brother Joseph Hill.

Georgiana Hill (1816–1873): The only daughter of Herbert Hill and his wife Catherine.

John Harris (1756–1846): Publisher, who mainly specialised in juvenile books. In 1813, in collaboration with C. J. Barrington, he ventured into new territory and suggested that Southey should take up the continuations of John Campbell’s (1708–1775; DNB), Lives of the Admirals and Other Eminent British Seamen (1742–1744). Southey immediately declined the offer on the grounds of his inadequate knowledge of the subject.

Edward Hill (1809–1900): Eldest son of Herbert and Catherine Hill. Educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. Southey provided a stream of advice on Edward’s education, including the process of being elected a King’s Scholar at Westminster – an honour Edward achieved in 1823 – and whether he should proceed to Oxford or Cambridge. Edward was an excellent scholar and graduated with a First in 1830, becoming a Tutor at Christ Church. Southey liked and respected Edward and invited him to spend a number of holidays in Keswick, beginning in 1824.

Thomas Hill (1760–1840): Book-collector and part-proprietor of the Monthly Mirror. Born in Lancaster in May 1760, he went at an early age to London, where for many years he carried on an extensive business as a drysalter at Queenhithe. He patronized Robert Bloomfield, whose The Farmer’s Boy he read in manuscript and recommended to a publisher. In his role as part-owner of the Monthly Mirror he befriended one of its contributors, the youthful Henry Kirke White. Southey believed that Hill owned probably ‘the best existing collection of English poetry’.