Aaron Hill
Aaron Hill was an English writer and theatrical figure born on February 10, 1685, in London. After completing his education, he traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East, experiences that enriched his later writings. Hill initially pursued a managerial role in theater, starting at Drury Lane in 1709 and moving to the Haymarket theater the following year. He is known for his theatrical contributions, including the farce "The Walking Statue: Or, The Devil in the Wine Cellar," which was well received during his lifetime. Hill's stage tragedies, while less memorable today, gained notoriety through their mention in Alexander Pope's satirical poem "The Dunciad." In response, Hill wrote "The Progress of Wit." He is also recognized for writing the libretto for George Frideric Handel's first opera in London and for translating several plays by Voltaire, introducing the French playwright to English audiences. Additionally, Hill authored numerous poems and essays and founded the theatrical magazine "The Prompter." He passed away in London in 1750, just before his sixty-fifth birthday.
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Aaron Hill
Poet
- Born: February 10, 1685
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: February 8, 1750
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
Aaron Hill was born in London on February 10, 1685. Upon completing his schooling in 1700, he set out for two years of travel in Europe and the Middle East, travels that later provided much substance and background for his writings. He married an heiress, which allowed him to engage in risky (and generally unsuccessful) financial speculations and inventing for much of his life.
Hill began his association with the theater in a managerial capacity, first with the Drury Lane theater, beginning in 1709, and then moving to the Haymarket theater the following year. His writings for the theater include one farce, The Walking Statue: Or, The Devil in the Wine Cellar (1710), which was well received in his own day and is still well regarded by critics. His several stage tragedies, however, would likely be forgotten today had they not been one of the targets of the great satirist Alexander Pope’s mock-epic poem The Dunciad (1728), a savage and funny attack on dull and inept writing. Hill responded to Pope’s attack with a poem of his own, The Progress of Wit (1730).
In addition to Pope, Hill is chiefly remembered today for his association with two other famous men. In 1711, he wrote the libretto for George Frideric Handel’s first London opera, and between 1732 and 1743, he translated four of François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire’s plays into English, thus first introducing the French playwright and philosopher to London audiences. In addition to his plays and translations, Hill also wrote numerous poems and essays on varied topics, including the theater of his day, and founded a theatrical magazine, The Prompter. He died in London in 1750, just two days shy of his sixty-fifth birthday.