Charles Dickens (1812-1870), novelist, was born 7 February, 1812, at 387 Mile End Terrace, Commercial Road, Landport, Portsea. His father, John Dickens, a clerk in the navy pay office, with a salary of 80/. a year, was then stationed in the Portsmouth dockyard. The wife of the first Lord Houghtori1 told Mr. Wemyss Reid that Mrs. Dickens, mother of John, was housekeeper at Crewe, and famous for …