He did not know that he was an antiquary until the world informed him of it, from having read his 'History of Birmingham,' and then, he said, he could see it himself.

Benjamin Franklin was alike eminent as a printer and bookseller--an author, a philosopher and a statesman.
Coming down to our own time, we find Ebenezer Elliott successfully carrying on the business of a bar-iron merchant in Sheffield, during which time he wrote and published the greater number of his poems; and his success in business was such as to enable him to retire into the country and build a house of his own, in which he spent the remainder of his days.

Isaac Taylor, the author of the 'Natural History of Enthusiasm,' was an engraver of patterns for Manchester calico-printers; and other members of this gifted family were followers of the same branch of art.
The principal early works of John Stuart Mill were written in the intervals of official work, while he held the office of principal examiner in the East India House,--in which Charles Lamb, Peacock the author of 'Headlong Hall,' and Edwin Norris the philologist, were also clerks.

Macaulay wrote his 'Lays of Ancient Rome' in the War Office, while holding the post of Secretary of War.

It is well known that the thoughtful writings of Mr.Helps are literally "Essays written in the Intervals of Business." Many of our best living authors are men holding important public offices--such as Sir Henry Taylor, Sir John Kaye, Anthony Trollope, Tom Taylor, Matthew Arnold, and Samuel Warren.
Mr.Proctor the poet, better known as "Barry Cornwall," was a barrister and commissioner in lunacy.