John Home
John Home (1722-1808) was a prominent Scottish playwright, recognized as the first significant playwright from Scotland. Initially trained for the clergy at the University of Edinburgh, he was ordained in 1745 but soon transitioned into the world of theater. His close friendship with philosopher David Hume, who dedicated his work to Home, highlights the intellectual connections of the time. Home's first play, "Aegis," was rejected by the famous actor-manager David Garrick, but his second play, "Douglas," found success when it was staged by friends despite initial setbacks.
"Douglas," a romantic tragedy focused on maternal love, was controversial for a clergyman to write, leading to backlash from conservative members of the Church of Scotland. The play's popularity in London allowed Home to step away from his ministerial duties, ultimately serving as secretary to Lord Bute and tutoring the Prince of Wales. Although he continued to write other plays, none matched the acclaim of "Douglas." A severe horse riding accident in 1778 left him with lasting health issues, leading him to live as an invalid in Edinburgh for the remainder of his life. Home's journey illustrates the intersection of religion, literature, and societal norms in 18th-century Scotland.
On this Page
Subject Terms
John Home
Poet
- Born: September 22, 1722
- Birthplace: Leith, Scotland
- Died: September 5, 1808
Biography
John Home holds the distinction of being the first Scottish playwright of note. Born in Leith, he was trained for the clergy at the University of Edinburgh and ordained a minister in the Church of Scotland in 1745. He was assigned to a parish in Edinburgh the following year, thus beginning his ecclesiastical career.
One of Home’s closest and most valued friends was philosopher and historian David Hume, who was among the first civil libertarians. Hume dedicated his Four Dissertations (1757) to Home. Hume argued that belief in a supreme being is based not on a rational view but on imagination. For a clergyman in Scotland at that time, Hume was considered a somewhat heterodox and dangerous friend to have.
Home sent is his first play, Aegis, to David Garrick in 1749, hoping that it would be accepted and performed at Drury Lane. Garrick, however, rejected the play. Not daunted by this rejection, Home submitted his next play, Douglas, to Garrick, who again rejected it. Despite Garrick’s negative judgment, a group of Home’s friends, who had faith in the play and in its author, staged a production of it in 1755 at Edinburgh’s Canongate Theatre. The play was so successful that some Scots who saw it were convinced that Home would gain sufficient recognition as a playwright to eclipse William Shakespeare’s fame as a dramatist of unequaled note.
The success of Douglas, however, proved a liability for Home. The play, a romantic tragedy, is an exploration of a mother’s love for her son. Despite the seeming innocence of such a topic, conservative elements in the Church of Scotland were appalled at the notion that a minister of that church should engage in writing plays. At that time, anything connected with the theater was frowned upon as not respectable. Many of Home’s conservative brethren renounced Home and his play from their pulpits. They saturated Edinburgh with pamphlets condemning the play. Meanwhile, John Rich, manager of Covent Garden, brought the play to London where audiences received it enthusiastically. This success permitted Home, whose heart was likely more in the theater than in the church, to leave the ministry and to put most of the contention about his dramatic writing behind him.
Home now became secretary to Lord Bute, England’s prime minister, who arranged for him to tutor the Prince of Wales. By this time, Home had many friends and supporters in high places. In 1757, David Garrick reconsidered his earlier rejection of Aegis and presented the play at Covent Garden, although it did not meet with the success of Douglas. Home continued to write plays, four of which were performed in London but were not notable successes.
In 1778, Home fell from his horse, badly injuring his head and causing substantial brain damage from which he never fully recovered. He returned to Edinburgh and lived there as an invalid for thirty more years.