Walton is buried in the Prior Silkstead Chapel at Winchester Cathedral

Isaac Walton, now primarily known as the author of The Compleat Angler was recognised in his lifetime chiefly as a biographer. Ironically, little information on Isaac Walton's earlier days has been discovered from toddler days through upbringing and education.

Baptised at St Mary’s Church, Stafford on the 21st September 1593, Isaac was the son of an alehouse keeper, Jervis Walton. Jervis died when Isaac was only 4 years old and his wife Anne Walton remarried another inn keeper in Stafford. By the age of 20, Isaac was serving his apprenticeship in London as a draper to his kinsman, Thomas Grinsell.

In 1618 he was admitted a freeman of the Ironmongers Company and on his wedding licence he was described as ’of the Cittie of London, Ironmonger.’ The importance of Isaac in the company increased until he was elected Warden of the Yeomanry in 1637. Isaac Walton married in 1626 to his first wife Rachel Floyd who he lost along with his seven children by 1640.

Isaac married again in 1646 and had a son and daughter. Following the death of his second wife he spent many days fishing on the River Dove. Isaac died in 1683 at the age of 90.

Whilst fishing the river Dove and other rivers nearby Isaac Walton is known to have stayed in a local 17th Century Guesthouse and this has now become the Izaak Walton Hotel.

The Work of Isaac Walton

Isaac Walton was first noticed in print back in 1619, by an edition of a poem called The Loue of Amos & Laura. Following his marriage to Rachel Floyd, Sir Henry Wotton wrote to Walton about angling, which may have influenced his first Angling publication.

At the age of 60, Isaac’s book was first published (1653) and dedicated to John Offley of Madeley Manor, Staffordshire. The Compleat Angler, was extensively revised by the author in 1655 and again in 1676 drawing on earlier angling writers and incorporated recipes, legends and poems into his text. Isaac spent much time fishing at his friends, Charles Cotton’s lodge on the River Dove and with approval from Isaac, Charles added a supplement into the 1767 edition on fly–fishing.