About John Woodcock Graves
Lived 1795 – 1886 (aged 91). John Woodcock Graves was a British composer, poet and writer.
John Woodcock Graves (9 February 1795 – 17 August 1886) was a composer and author of "D'ye ken John Peel".
Life Graves was born in Wigton, Cumberland, England to Joseph Graves and his wife Ann, née Matthews.
Graves neglected his woollen mills and lost a court case concerning it.
He was married twice: firstly to Jane Atkinson and secondly to Abigail Porthouse.
In 1958 a memorial to him was erected in St David's Park. Sidney Gilpin's The Songs and Ballads of Cumberland includes six poems by Graves.
Graves died in Hobart and was buried at Queenborough Cemetery near Sandy Bay. In 2024, Graves' body was one of nearly 2000 remains discovered during the construction of new buildings for The Hutchins School which is located on the former Queenborough Cemetery site. Graves' body was supposed to have been exhumed and relocated to Cornelian Bay Cemetery in the 1960s.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John Woodcock Graves?
British composer
When was John Woodcock Graves born?
John Woodcock Graves was born on 9 February 1795 in Wigton.
When did John Woodcock Graves die?
John Woodcock Graves died on 17 August 1886 in Tasmania.
What was John Woodcock Graves's occupation?
John Woodcock Graves was a composer, poet and writer.
What nationality was John Woodcock Graves?
John Woodcock Graves was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: John Woodcock Graves
· DBpedia: John Woodcock Graves
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Woodcock Graves. https://biography.guide/john-woodcock-graves/
MLA: "John Woodcock Graves." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-woodcock-graves/.
Chicago: "John Woodcock Graves." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-woodcock-graves/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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