Thomas Stanley
Thomas Stanley was a notable English poet and philosopher born in September 1625 in Cumberlow, Hertfordshire. Hailing from a wealthy family, he was educated by a private tutor, mastering several languages including Greek and Latin. He graduated with an M.A. from Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, in 1642. A Royalist during the English Civil War, Stanley spent time in France and began his literary career with a limited private edition of his poetry, "Poems and Translations," in 1647. He later published "Psalterium Carlolinum," a verse translation of a work by Charles I, in 1657. Transitioning to philosophy, Stanley authored "History of Philosophy" over several years, which remained influential for centuries. He returned to poetry later in life, producing a collection inspired by his friends. Elected to the Royal Society, Stanley was esteemed for his contributions to both poetic and scholarly pursuits before his death in 1678. His legacy encompasses a blend of artistic creativity and academic rigor, marking him as a significant intellectual figure of his time.
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Thomas Stanley
Author
- Born: September 1, 1625
- Birthplace: Cumberlow, Hertfordshire, England
- Died: April 12, 1678
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
Thomas Stanley was born into a wealthy family in September, 1625, at Cumberlow, Hertfortshire, England. His father was Sir Thomas Sherlock Stanley. His mother, Mary Hammond Stanley, was related to the poet Richard Lovelace, among others. As a youth, he was educated by William Fairfax, a private tutor who taught him Greek and Latin in addition to the modern languages of Italian, French, and Spanish. At the age of thirteen, he entered Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, receiving his M.A. in 1642. A Royalist, he spent time in France following graduation to escape the civil war in England.
Stanley’s first collection of poetry, Poems and Translations, was a private edition of no more than fifty copies published in 1647 for his friends. The collection was revised and reprinted (again as a private edition with few copies) with the title Poems. These two volumes contain both original poetry and translations of Greek and Latin poetry. Psalterium Carlolinum, dedicated to Charles II, was published in 1657. This volume is a translation of Eikon Basilie, a prose work of meditations on the civil war written by Charles I, into verse.
In 1648, Stanley married Dorothy Enyon. At the suggestion of Sir John Marshall, his uncle by marriage, he turned from poetry to philosophy. His History of Philosophy, published in four volumes between 1655 and 1662, was considered standard well into the nineteenth century. Similarly, his 1663 edition of Aeschylus is still valued by some Greek historians today. He returned to poetry late in his life, completing a series of poems titled A Register of Friends, inspired by his closest associates. He died April 12, 1678, and was buried at St. Martin-in-the- Fields.
Stanley was elected a member of the Royal Society in 1661 and a fellow in 1663. One of the most learned men of his day, known for both his love poems and his critical editions, Thomas Stanley is recognized for forging artistry and scholarship.