Born in the parish of St. Michan's, Dublin, he was admitted a pensioner at Trinity College Dublin in 1766. He graduated B.A. in 1770, and M.A. in 1773, studied in the Middle Temple, and was called to the Irish bar in 1777.[1] At one point he was Commissioner of Appeals.[2]
Preston assisted in the formation of the Royal Irish Academy, and was elected its first secretary in 1786, a post he held during the rest of his life. He also helped to found the Dublin Library Society, and was a contributor to its Transactions.[1]
Preston, who was a member of the Monks of the Screw, died on 2 February 1807. He was buried in St. Thomas's churchyard, Dublin.[1]
Worksedit
Preston wrote occasional poetry for periodicals—including The Press, the organ of the United Irishmen, and the Sentimental and Masonic Magazine, 1794—and he contributed to Pranceriana (1784) a collection of satirical pieces on John Hely-Hutchinson, provost of Trinity College, and to Joshua Edkins's collection of poems (1789–90 and 1801).[1]
His main success was his tragedy Democratic Rage, based on incidents in the French Revolution. It was produced at Dublin in 1793, and ran through three editions in as many weeks. Other works were:[1]
Heroic Epistle of Mr. Manly … to Mr. Pinchbeck, satire (anon.), Dublin, 1775.
Heroic Epistle to Mr. Twiss, by Donna Teresa Pinna y Ruiz, a satire, Dublin, 1775; 2nd edit. Dublin, 1775.
Heroic Answer of Mr. Twiss, by the same, a satire, Dublin, 1775. These two works were aimed at Richard Twiss.
1777, or a Picture of the Manners and Customs of the Age, poem (anon.), Dublin, 1778?
The Female Congress, or the Temple of Cottyto, mock-heroic poem in four cantos, London, 1779
The Contrast, or a Comparison between England and Ireland, poem, 1780.
Offa and Ethelbert, or the Saxon Princes, tragedy, Dublin, 1791.
Messina Freed, tragedy, Dublin, 1793.
The Adopted Son, a tragedy.
Rosmanda, a tragedy, Dublin, 1793.
Democratic Rage, a tragedy, London, 1793.
Poetical Works, 2 vols. Dublin, 1793.
The Siege of Ismail, a tragedy, Dublin, 1794.
A Letter to Bryan Edwards, Esq. … on some Passages of his "History of the West Indies", London, 1794.
The Natural Advantages of Ireland, Dublin, 1796.
The Argonautics of Apollonius Rhodius, translated into English verse with notes, 1803 (various other editions).
Some Considerations on the History of the Ancient Amatory Writers and the comparative Merits of the Elegiac Poets, Dublin? 1805?
Posthumous Poems, edited by Hon. Frances Preston, with portrait, Dublin, 1809.[1]
william, preston, poet, william, preston, 1753, february, 1807, irish, poet, playwright, essayist, william, prestonborn1753died1807, aged, occupationplaywrightnationalityirishalma, matertrinity, college, dublingenrepoetry, contents, life, works, also, noteslif. William Preston 1753 2 February 1807 was an Irish poet playwright and essayist William PrestonBorn1753Died1807 aged 53 54 OccupationPlaywrightNationalityIrishAlma materTrinity College DublinGenrePoetry Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 See also 4 NotesLife editBorn in the parish of St Michan s Dublin he was admitted a pensioner at Trinity College Dublin in 1766 He graduated B A in 1770 and M A in 1773 studied in the Middle Temple and was called to the Irish bar in 1777 1 At one point he was Commissioner of Appeals 2 Preston assisted in the formation of the Royal Irish Academy and was elected its first secretary in 1786 a post he held during the rest of his life He also helped to found the Dublin Library Society and was a contributor to its Transactions 1 Preston who was a member of the Monks of the Screw died on 2 February 1807 He was buried in St Thomas s churchyard Dublin 1 Works editPreston wrote occasional poetry for periodicals including The Press the organ of the United Irishmen and the Sentimental and Masonic Magazine 1794 and he contributed to Pranceriana 1784 a collection of satirical pieces on John Hely Hutchinson provost of Trinity College and to Joshua Edkins s collection of poems 1789 90 and 1801 1 His main success was his tragedy Democratic Rage based on incidents in the French Revolution It was produced at Dublin in 1793 and ran through three editions in as many weeks Other works were 1 Heroic Epistle of Mr Manly to Mr Pinchbeck satire anon Dublin 1775 Heroic Epistle to Mr Twiss by Donna Teresa Pinna y Ruiz a satire Dublin 1775 2nd edit Dublin 1775 Heroic Answer of Mr Twiss by the same a satire Dublin 1775 These two works were aimed at Richard Twiss 1777 or a Picture of the Manners and Customs of the Age poem anon Dublin 1778 The Female Congress or the Temple of Cottyto mock heroic poem in four cantos London 1779 The Contrast or a Comparison between England and Ireland poem 1780 Offa and Ethelbert or the Saxon Princes tragedy Dublin 1791 Messina Freed tragedy Dublin 1793 The Adopted Son a tragedy Rosmanda a tragedy Dublin 1793 Democratic Rage a tragedy London 1793 Poetical Works 2 vols Dublin 1793 The Siege of Ismail a tragedy Dublin 1794 A Letter to Bryan Edwards Esq on some Passages of his History of the West Indies London 1794 The Natural Advantages of Ireland Dublin 1796 The Argonautics of Apollonius Rhodius translated into English verse with notes 1803 various other editions Some Considerations on the History of the Ancient Amatory Writers and the comparative Merits of the Elegiac Poets Dublin 1805 Posthumous Poems edited by Hon Frances Preston with portrait Dublin 1809 1 See also editThomas Preston 1st Viscount Tara William Preston Virginia soldier Notes edit a b c d e f Lee Sidney ed 1896 Preston William 1753 1807 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 46 London Smith Elder amp Co From Compendium of Irish Biography Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1896 Preston William 1753 1807 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 46 London Smith Elder amp Co Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Preston poet amp oldid 1120720163, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
