Thomas Godfrey
Thomas Godfrey was an American playwright and poet, born in Philadelphia in 1736 as the son of inventor Thomas Godfrey, Sr. After his father's death when he was just 13, Godfrey apprenticed as a watchmaker but soon gained recognition for his literary talent. Under the guidance of William Smith, provost of what would become the University of Pennsylvania, he was released from his apprenticeship to pursue an education in the arts. Godfrey's service in the Pennsylvania militia during the French and Indian War inspired many of his patriotic poems, while his notable works include the five-act tragedy *The Prince of Parthia*, believed to be the first professionally produced play by a native-born American. Although it premiered posthumously in 1767, the play explores themes of ambition and the dangers of tyranny, resonating with contemporary political concerns. Additionally, Godfrey's poetry was compiled and published after his death in a collection titled *Juvenile Poems on Various Subjects*. He passed away in 1763, leaving behind a legacy that contributed to American literature.
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Thomas Godfrey
Playwright
- Born: December 4, 1736
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Died: August 3, 1763
- Place of death: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Biography
Thomas Godfrey, the son of famed inventor Thomas Godfrey, Sr., who invented the navigator’s quadrant and was a member of Benjamin Franklin’s Junto Society for mutual improvement, was born in Philadelphia in 1736. Following his father’s early death in 1749, Godfrey apprenticed himself as a watchmaker. However, when his verse was noticed by William Smith, the provost of what would become the University of Pennsylvania, Smith arranged for Godfrey’s release from apprenticeship and set about educating and fostering his talent at the college. There Thomas Godfrey had an opportunity to work with other young masters of verse spotted by Smith, including Benjamin West, Jacob Duchè, and Nathaniel Evans.
In the late 1750’s and 1760’s, Godfrey was stationed with the Pennsylvania militia. He participated in the French and Indian War as a lieutenant stationed at a fort on the frontier, where he wrote many of his more patriotic poems. Around this time Godfrey developed The Court of Fancy, which was produced in England through the help of Godfrey’s mentor William Smith. However, Thomas Godfrey is best remembered for his five-act play The Prince of Parthia. It was first performed in 1767 after his death and rumored to be the very first professionally produced play written by a native-born American. The play itself is a tragedy modeled after the work of William Shakespeare that deals with the overly ambitious royal family of Parthia, whose members see themselves as godlike and virtuous but allow pride and desire to corrupt their minds and drive them to attack each other and ruin their empire. The Prince of Parthia also served to address many then-contemporary concerns, particularly the fear of tyranny and unlimited power, two key tenets of Whig ideology. Thomas Godfrey died in 1763. Many of his poems were collected and posthumously published as Juvenile Poems on Various Subjects in the years following his death.