Richard Glover
Richard Glover was an English merchant and poet, born in 1712 in London to a family involved in commerce. He began his literary career at a young age, composing a poem in praise of Sir Isaac Newton that was featured in Henry Pemberton's 1728 publication. Glover gained recognition for his epic poem "Leonidas," published in 1737, which celebrated liberty and critiqued the government of Prime Minister Robert Walpole. His writings often reflected his political views, including poems aimed at stirring anti-Spanish sentiment and advocating for merchants' interests. In addition to poetry, Glover ventured into drama with plays such as "Boadicia," although his theatrical works did not achieve the same acclaim. He served in Parliament from 1761 to 1768, continuing his political involvement alongside his literary pursuits. Glover's later works included an expanded edition of "Leonidas" and the three-volume "The Athenaid," published posthumously. While his writings were highly regarded during his lifetime, they have since fallen out of favor, yet they remain valuable for understanding the literary and political landscape of 18th-century England.
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Richard Glover
Poet
- Born: 1712
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: November 25, 1785
Biography
Richard Glover was born in 1712 in London, England, to Mary and Richard Glover. His father was a merchant who traveled frequently to Germany. Glover attended school in Cheam, Surrey, England, and then took up his father’s trade, becoming a merchant himself.
Glover’s first published work was composed when he was just sixteen. He wrote a poem in praise of Sir Isaac Newton which found its way to the writer Henry Pemberton, who used the poem as a preface to his volume A View of Sir Isaac Newton’s Philosophy, published in 1728. The poem demonstrated a surprising knowledge of the classics.
In 1737, Glover married Hannah Nunn. His marriage, as well as his success as a merchant, improved his financial situation. He also continued to write poetry; in the same year as his marriage, he published Leonidas, a nine-volume epic poem in praise of liberty. Leonidas was written in opposition to Prime MinisterRobert Walpole. This poem did much to establish Glover’s reputation and was very popular. In 1739, he published London: Or, The Progress of Commerce, a Poem, and in 1740, Admiral Hoosier’s Ghost. Both poems were written to stir up anti-Spanish sentiment among the English.
Glover continued to agitate against Walpole’s government, complaining to Parliament in 1742 that the government was not being attentive enough to commerce. In 1751, Glover stood for election to the office of lord chamberlain of London, losing the contest. Despite this defeat, he continued to be active in politics. He broadened his writing in 1753 to include drama, writing Boadicia, a play performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. Neither this play nor Glover’s subsequent dramas, Medea: A Tragedy and Jason: A Tragedy in Five Acts, received positive reviews.
In 1761, Glover was elected to Parliament, where he served until 1768. His tenure was notable for his continued work on behalf of merchants. He returned to literature with a revision of Leonidas that expanded the original epic to twelve full volumes. In addition, he wrote a sequel, The Athenaid. This three-volume poem was not published until 1787, two years after the poet’s death on November 25, 1785. In addition, Glover’s autobiography, Memoirs of a Distinguished Literary and Political Character from 1742 to 1757, appeared in 1813.
Glover’s work was highly praised in his own day, considered comparable to that of John Milton and Alexander Pope. However, his work fell out of favor quickly in the nineteenth century, and it is unlikely that it will ever regain its former popularity. Nevertheless, Glover’s work provides remarkable insight into the literary taste and political machinations of eighteenth century England.