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Richard Polwhele

November 28, 2023

Richard Polwhele (6 January 1760 – 12 March 1838) was a Cornish clergyman, poet and historian of Cornwall and Devon.

Richard Polwhele
Born(1760-03-12)12 March 1760
Truro, Cornwall, England
Died23 January 1838(1838-01-23) (aged 78)
Truro, Cornwall, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationClergyman
Known forHistorian and poet
Spouses
  • Loveday Warren
  • Mary Tyrrell
Children3
ParentRobert Blight

Biography edit

Richard Polwhele's ancestors long held the manor of Treworgan, 4 3/4 miles south-east of Truro in Cornwall, which family bore as arms: Sable, a saltire engrailed ermine.[1] He was born at Truro, Cornwall, and met literary luminaries Catharine Macaulay and Hannah More at an early age. He was educated at Truro Grammar School, where he precociously published The Fate of Llewellyn. He went on to Christ Church, Oxford, continuing to write poetry, but left without taking a degree. In 1782 he was ordained a curate, married Loveday Warren, and moved to a curacy at Kenton, Devon. On his wife's death in 1793, Polwhele was left with three children. Later that year he married Mary Tyrrell, briefly taking up a curacy at Exmouth before being appointed to the small living of Manaccan in Cornwall in 1794. From 1806, when he took up a curacy at Kenwyn, Truro, he was non-resident at Manaccan: Polwhele angered Manaccan parishioners with his efforts to restore the church and vicarage. He maintained epistolary exchanges with Samuel Badcock, Macaulay, William Cowper, Erasmus Darwin, and Anna Seward.[2]

When in Devon, Polwhele had edited the two-volume work Poems Chiefly by Gentlemen of Devonshire and Cornwall (1792) for an Exeter literary society. However, Essays by a Society of Gentlemen at Exeter (1796) caused a rift between Polwhele and other society members. Polwhele had by this time begun the first of his two major county histories, the History of Devonshire. This appeared in 3 volumes, 1793–1806, but his coverage was uneven and subscribers deserted.[3] His seven-volume History of Cornwall appeared 1803–1808, with a new edition in 1816.[2]

Polwhele's volumes of poetry included The Art of Eloquence, a didactic poem (1785), The Idylls, Epigrams, and Fragments of Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus, with the elegies of Tyrtaeus (1786), The English Orator (1796), Influence of Local Attachment (1796), and Poetic Trifles (1796). However, The Unsex'd Females, a Poem (1798), a defensive reaction to women's literary self-assertion, is today perhaps Polwhele's most notorious poetic production: in the poem Hannah More is Christ to Mary Wollstonecraft's Satan.

Polwhele contributed to the Gentleman's Magazine and (1799–1805) to the Anti-Jacobin Review. He published sermons, theological essays for the Church Union Society, and attacks on Methodism (although he befriended his main Methodist antagonist Samuel Drew). At the end of his life, after retiring to his manor house of Polwhele, he worked to produce Traditions and Recollections (two volumes, 1826) and Biographical Sketches (three volumes, 1831).[2]

He died at Truro on 12 March 1838. He was buried at St Clement, Cornwall.[2]

Legacy edit

His name survives in Polwhele House School, an independent preparatory school two miles from Truro.

Works edit

  • Six Odes Presented to that Justly-Celebrated Historian, Mrs Catharine Macaulay, on her Birth-day, and Publicly Read to a Polite and Brilliant Audience, Assembled April the Second, at Alfred-House, Bath, to Congratulate that Lady on the Happy Occasion. Bath: R. Cruttwell. (1777)
  • The Fate of Lewellyn; or, the Druid's Sacrifice. A Legendary Tale. In Two Parts. To which is added Carnbre', a Poem. Bath: Printed by R. Cruttwell, for the Author; and sold by E. and C. Dilly ... and W. Goldsmith [etc.]. (1777)
  • The Spirit of Frazer, to General Burgoyne. An ode. To which is added, The Death of Hilda; an American Tale. Inscribed to Mrs. Macaulay. Bath: R. Cruttwell. (1778)
  • The Art of Eloquence, a Didactic Poem (1785)
  • The Follies of Oxford: Or, Cursory Sketches on a University Education, from an Under Graduate to his Friend in the Country. London: Dodsley, Dilly and Kearsley. (1785)
  • The Idyllia, Epigrams, and Fragments, of Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus, with the Elegies of Tyrtæus, Translated from the Greek into English Verse. To which are Added, Dissertations and Notes. Exeter: R. Thorn. (1786)
  • Poems. Namely, The English Orator; An Address to Thomas Pennant ... An Ode on the Susceptibility of the Poetical Character; Twenty Sonnets; An Epistle to a College Friend; and The Lock Transformed. With notes on The English Orator. London: T. Cadell. (1791)
  • Poems, Chiefly by Gentlemen of Devonshire and Cornwall (1792)
  • Historical Views of Devonshire (1793)
  • The History of Devonshire, 3 vols., (1793–1806)
  • Influence of Local Attachment (1796)
  • Poetic Trifles (1796)
  • Essays by a Society of Gentlemen at Exeter (1796), edited by Polwhele
  • The Old English Gentleman (1797)
  • The Unsex'd Females (1798)
  • Grecian Prospects: A Poem, In Two Cantos. Helston: Cadell and Davis. (1799)
  • A Sketch of Peter Pindar (1800)
  • Anecdotes of Methodism (1800)
  • Sir Aaron, or The Flights of Fanaticism (1800)
  • History of Cornwall (3 vols., 1803)
  • Poems. London: Rivington's. 1810.
  • The Fair Isabel of Cotehele, a Cornish Romance, in six cantos. London: J. Cawthorn. (1815)
  • Traditions and Recollections (2 vols, 1826)
  • Biographical Sketches in Cornwall (3 vols, 1831)
  • Reminiscences, in Prose and Verse; Consisting of the Epistolary Correspondence of Many Distinguished Characters. With Notes and Illustrations. London: J. B. Nichols and Son. (3 vols., 1836)

Notes edit

  1. ^ Burke's General Armory, 1884
  2. ^ a b c d Courtney 1887.
  3. ^ Butler-Gallie, Fergus (2018). A Field Guide to the English Clergy: a compendium of diverse eccentrics, pirates, prelates and adventurers; all Anglican, some even practising. London: Oneworld Publications. p. 55. ISBN 9781786074416.

Bibliography edit

  • Courtney, William Prideaux (1887). "Polwhele, Richard" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 11. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 71–73.
  • Stafford, William (2002). English Feminists and Their Opponents in the 1790s: Unsex'd and Proper Females. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719060823.

External links edit

  • Courtney, W. P.; Cerny, Grant P. (revised) (2008) [2004]. "Polwhele, Richard (1760–1838)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/22483. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  • Richard Polwhele, . London: Printed for Cadell and Davies, in the Strand. 1798.
  • Anna Seward, Sonnet to the Rev. Richard Polwhele, on his poem upon the influence of local attachment

November 28, 2023
richard, polwhele, january, 1760, march, 1838, cornish, clergyman, poet, historian, cornwall, devon, born, 1760, march, 1760truro, cornwall, englanddied23, january, 1838, 1838, aged, truro, cornwall, englandnationalitybritishoccupationclergymanknown, forhistor. Richard Polwhele 6 January 1760 12 March 1838 was a Cornish clergyman poet and historian of Cornwall and Devon Richard PolwheleBorn 1760 03 12 12 March 1760Truro Cornwall EnglandDied23 January 1838 1838 01 23 aged 78 Truro Cornwall EnglandNationalityBritishOccupationClergymanKnown forHistorian and poetSpousesLoveday Warren Mary TyrrellChildren3ParentRobert Blight Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Works 4 Notes 5 Bibliography 6 External linksBiography editRichard Polwhele s ancestors long held the manor of Treworgan 4 3 4 miles south east of Truro in Cornwall which family bore as arms Sable a saltire engrailed ermine 1 He was born at Truro Cornwall and met literary luminaries Catharine Macaulay and Hannah More at an early age He was educated at Truro Grammar School where he precociously published The Fate of Llewellyn He went on to Christ Church Oxford continuing to write poetry but left without taking a degree In 1782 he was ordained a curate married Loveday Warren and moved to a curacy at Kenton Devon On his wife s death in 1793 Polwhele was left with three children Later that year he married Mary Tyrrell briefly taking up a curacy at Exmouth before being appointed to the small living of Manaccan in Cornwall in 1794 From 1806 when he took up a curacy at Kenwyn Truro he was non resident at Manaccan Polwhele angered Manaccan parishioners with his efforts to restore the church and vicarage He maintained epistolary exchanges with Samuel Badcock Macaulay William Cowper Erasmus Darwin and Anna Seward 2 When in Devon Polwhele had edited the two volume work Poems Chiefly by Gentlemen of Devonshire and Cornwall 1792 for an Exeter literary society However Essays by a Society of Gentlemen at Exeter 1796 caused a rift between Polwhele and other society members Polwhele had by this time begun the first of his two major county histories the History of Devonshire This appeared in 3 volumes 1793 1806 but his coverage was uneven and subscribers deserted 3 His seven volume History of Cornwall appeared 1803 1808 with a new edition in 1816 2 Polwhele s volumes of poetry included The Art of Eloquence a didactic poem 1785 The Idylls Epigrams and Fragments of Theocritus Bion and Moschus with the elegies of Tyrtaeus 1786 The English Orator 1796 Influence of Local Attachment 1796 and Poetic Trifles 1796 However The Unsex d Females a Poem 1798 a defensive reaction to women s literary self assertion is today perhaps Polwhele s most notorious poetic production in the poem Hannah More is Christ to Mary Wollstonecraft s Satan Polwhele contributed to the Gentleman s Magazine and 1799 1805 to the Anti Jacobin Review He published sermons theological essays for the Church Union Society and attacks on Methodism although he befriended his main Methodist antagonist Samuel Drew At the end of his life after retiring to his manor house of Polwhele he worked to produce Traditions and Recollections two volumes 1826 and Biographical Sketches three volumes 1831 2 He died at Truro on 12 March 1838 He was buried at St Clement Cornwall 2 Legacy editHis name survives in Polwhele House School an independent preparatory school two miles from Truro Works editSix Odes Presented to that Justly Celebrated Historian Mrs Catharine Macaulay on her Birth day and Publicly Read to a Polite and Brilliant Audience Assembled April the Second at Alfred House Bath to Congratulate that Lady on the Happy Occasion Bath R Cruttwell 1777 The Fate of Lewellyn or the Druid s Sacrifice A Legendary Tale In Two Parts To which is added Carnbre a Poem Bath Printed by R Cruttwell for the Author and sold by E and C Dilly and W Goldsmith etc 1777 The Spirit of Frazer to General Burgoyne An ode To which is added The Death of Hilda an American Tale Inscribed to Mrs Macaulay Bath R Cruttwell 1778 The Art of Eloquence a Didactic Poem 1785 The Follies of Oxford Or Cursory Sketches on a University Education from an Under Graduate to his Friend in the Country London Dodsley Dilly and Kearsley 1785 The Idyllia Epigrams and Fragments of Theocritus Bion and Moschus with the Elegies of Tyrtaeus Translated from the Greek into English Verse To which are Added Dissertations and Notes Exeter R Thorn 1786 Poems Namely The English Orator An Address to Thomas Pennant An Ode on the Susceptibility of the Poetical Character Twenty Sonnets An Epistle to a College Friend and The Lock Transformed With notes on The English Orator London T Cadell 1791 Poems Chiefly by Gentlemen of Devonshire and Cornwall 1792 Historical Views of Devonshire 1793 The History of Devonshire 3 vols 1793 1806 Influence of Local Attachment 1796 Poetic Trifles 1796 Essays by a Society of Gentlemen at Exeter 1796 edited by Polwhele The Old English Gentleman 1797 The Unsex d Females 1798 Grecian Prospects A Poem In Two Cantos Helston Cadell and Davis 1799 A Sketch of Peter Pindar 1800 Anecdotes of Methodism 1800 Sir Aaron or The Flights of Fanaticism 1800 History of Cornwall 3 vols 1803 Poems London Rivington s 1810 The Fair Isabel of Cotehele a Cornish Romance in six cantos London J Cawthorn 1815 Traditions and Recollections 2 vols 1826 Biographical Sketches in Cornwall 3 vols 1831 Reminiscences in Prose and Verse Consisting of the Epistolary Correspondence of Many Distinguished Characters With Notes and Illustrations London J B Nichols and Son 3 vols 1836 Notes edit Burke s General Armory 1884 a b c d Courtney 1887 Butler Gallie Fergus 2018 A Field Guide to the English Clergy a compendium of diverse eccentrics pirates prelates and adventurers all Anglican some even practising London Oneworld Publications p 55 ISBN 9781786074416 Bibliography editCourtney William Prideaux 1887 Polwhele Richard In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 11 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 71 73 Stafford William 2002 English Feminists and Their Opponents in the 1790s Unsex d and Proper Females Manchester University Press ISBN 9780719060823 External links edit nbsp Cornwall portalCourtney W P Cerny Grant P revised 2008 2004 Polwhele Richard 1760 1838 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 22483 Subscription or UK public library membership required Richard Polwhele The Unsex d Females A Poem Addressed to the Author of the Pursuit of Literature London Printed for Cadell and Davies in the Strand 1798 Anna Seward Sonnet to the Rev Richard Polwhele on his poem upon the influence of local attachment Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Polwhele amp oldid 1159414187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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