About Francis Birrell
Lived 1889 – 1935 (aged 45–46). Francis Birrell was a British translator, literary critic, journalist, editor and bookseller.
Francis Frederick Locker Birrell (17 February 1889 – 2 January 1935) was an English writer and bookseller.
Birrell was the son of Augustine Birrell and Eleanor Tennyson (born Locker-Lampson). It was the second marriage for each of his parents. He was educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge. During and after his time at Cambridge, he became associated with the Bloomsbury Group, and was a friend of Lytton Strachey and the novelist David Garnett. Later in life, he grew closer to Raymond Mortimer, who cared for him after a brain tumour left him disabled in the year before his death.
D. H. Lawrence rejected Birrell for his homosexuality.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Francis Birrell's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Francis Birrell's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Francis Birrell?
British writer (1889–1935)
When was Francis Birrell born?
Francis Birrell was born in 1889 in London.
When did Francis Birrell die?
Francis Birrell died in 1935.
What was Francis Birrell's occupation?
Francis Birrell was a translator, literary critic, journalist, editor and bookseller.
What nationality was Francis Birrell?
Francis Birrell was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Francis Birrell. https://biography.guide/francis-birrell/
MLA: "Francis Birrell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/francis-birrell/.
Chicago: "Francis Birrell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/francis-birrell/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:13 UTC