Biographical Outlines Part 7

SIR RICHARD STEELE.

Born 1671.-Died 1729.-Charles II.-James II.-William III.-Anne.-George I.-George II.

The friend of Addison and editor of the _Spectator_, _Tatler_, _Guardian_, and _Englishman_, in which he also wrote.

DANIEL DEFOE.

Born 1661.-Died 1731.-Charles II.-James II.-William III.-Anne.-George I.-George II.

The author of _Robinson Crusoe_ and the _History of the Plague_, was the son of James Foe, a butcher of Cripplegate in London. He also wrote tracts which several times got him into trouble.

ALEXANDER POPE.

Born 1688.-Died 1744.-James III.-William III.-Anne.-George I.-George II.

This celebrated poet of the 18th century, the son of a linendraper in the Strand, London, translated the _Iliad_ and _Odyssey_, wrote the _Rape of the Lock_, the _Essay on Man_, and other poems.

DEAN JONATHAN SWIFT.

Born 1667.-Died 1745.-Charles II.-James II.-William III.-Anne.-George I.-George II.

An Irish divine, born at Dublin, was a distinguished wit and writer. He wrote many satirical works, and _Gulliver's Travels_. His bitter, morose spirit tinges all his works. He died insane as Dean of St. Patrick's.

JOSEPH BUTLER.

Born 1692.-Died 1752.-William III.-Anne.-George I.-George II.

The author of the famous a.n.a.logy and Sermons, which have been long used as text-books of moral philosophy at our universities; he was Bishop of Bristol and afterwards of Durham, and Clerk of the Closet to Queen Caroline. He was born at Wantage in Berks.h.i.+re, and died at Bath.

HENRY FIELDING,

Born 1707.-Died 1754.-Anne.-George I.-George II.

Son of Lieutenant-General Fielding and great grandson of the third Earl of Denbigh, was born at Sharpham, in Somersets.h.i.+re. He was the author of _Tom Jones_ and several other novels full of character and accurate descriptions of varieties of life, but disfigured by the great coa.r.s.eness of the age in which he wrote. He died of dropsy at Lisbon.

GENERAL WOLFE.

Born 1726.-Died 1759.-George I.-George II.-George III.

This brave General, born in Kent, earned during his short life of thirty-three years unusual distinction. He was appointed General of the British troops in North America, under Lord Chatham's administration, and fought in the siege of Louisbourg, which surrendered, in Cape Breton.

While afterwards besieging Quebec, Wolfe was shot at the moment of his victory over the French under Montcalm, and when told that the French troops were flying, said, "I die content."

SAMUEL RICHARDSON.

Born 1689.-Died 1761.-William III.-Anne.-George I.-George II.-George III.

This celebrated novelist was born in Derbys.h.i.+re. He was educated at Christ's Hospital, and began life as a printer. He was the first English writer of fiction who, in _Sir Charles Grandison_, avoided the coa.r.s.eness which disfigures Smollett's and Fielding's works. He wrote also _Pamela_ and _Clarissa Harlowe_, which have been translated into most of the European languages.

WILLIAM HOGARTH.

Born 1697.-Died 1764.-William III.-Anne.-George I.-George II.-George III.

Born in London, began life as an engraver on silver: he became a great painter. The engravings of _The Rake's Progress_, _Marriage a la Mode_, _The a.n.a.lysis of Beauty_, etc., are universally known. His works are full of satire and instruction, though not of the most pleasing kind.

JAMES STUART.

Born 1688.-Died 1766.-James II.-William III.-Anne.-George I.-George II.-George III.

The first Pretender, son of James II., who when living at St. Germain, in France, landed in Scotland after the battle of Sheriffmuir, and made a public entry into Dundee. His small army soon melted away, and he escaped in a small vessel from the Bay of Montrose to Gravelines.

Unhappily, eight Jacobite n.o.blemen had been induced to rise in this rebellion, and though most of them escaped, Lords Derwent.w.a.ter and Kenmure were beheaded on Tower Hill.