Charles Hamilton Aide


Charles Hamilton Aide was "for many years a conspicuous figure in London literary society, a writer of novels, songs and dramas of considerable merit and popularity, and a skillful amateur artist". In particular, Aide was "known for such widely anthologized lyrics as 'Love, the Pilgrim', 'Lost and Found' and 'George Lee.

Biography

Aide was born in Paris, France. His father, a Greek exile, of good character, was killed in a duel when Aide was four years old. He was thereafter raised in England by his mother, who was the daughter of British Admiral George Collier. Aide attended the University of Bonn, then served in the British army seven years until 1853, attaining the rank of captain. He was an acquaintance to English novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. In a 1858 letter to publisher George Smith, she described him as such:
A homosexual bachelor, Aide lived in Lyndhurst with his mother. After her death in 1875, he then "took rooms at Queen Anne's Gate where he hosted a celebrated salon which drew 'the chief figures in the social and artistic world of France as well as England. He was one of the male companions of Henry James, who characterised him as "the Diane de Poitiers of our time".
He died in London, leaving his papers to Morton Fullerton.

Legacy

His entry in the Dictionary of National Biography sets forth that Aide was:
Aide left his papers to American author Morton Fullerton, then a correspondent for The Times in their Paris office, with open-ended instructions "to manipulate, to publish, or to burn as you think fit". His estate was sworn at £43,000 gross. His remaining literary copyrights were bequeathed to Lady Stanley.

Works