Charles Churchill
Charles Churchill was a notable 18th-century English satirist and poet, recognized for his sharp wit and commentary on the theatrical and political landscapes of his time. Born into a family with strong ties to the Anglican Church, Churchill attended Westminster School, where he befriended influential literary figures such as William Cowper and Robert Lloyd. Although he was initially destined for a religious career, he abandoned this path after a secret marriage at the age of seventeen.
Churchill achieved fame with his first major work, *The Rosciad*, published in 1761, which provided a satirical portrayal of the theater world, resonating with London’s vibrant audience. His success led to a literary rivalry, aligning himself with fellow radicals like John Wilkes against established figures such as Dr. Samuel Johnson. Despite personal struggles, including illness and lifestyle excesses, Churchill's contributions to political satire flourished, with works such as *The Ghost* and *The Candidate*. He died young at the age of thirty-two, yet his legacy remains influential in the realms of literature and political commentary.
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Charles Churchill
Poet
- Born: February 1, 1731
- Birthplace: Vine Street, Westminster, England
- Died: November 4, 1764
Biography
Charles Churchill, son of the Reverend Charles and Ann Churchill, was one of five siblings. His brothers Charles and William were both ordained in the Anglican Church and were men of letters; his other brother, John, was a physician; and his sister, Patience (“Patty”), was fiancée of poet Robert Lloyd. The family’s fortunes were closely tied to the town of Westminster, seat of the Houses of Parliament and the renowned Westminster School, which Churchill and his father attended. Lifelong friends encountered at the school included poet William Cowper, Robert Lloyd, and playwright George Colman the Elder.
Churchill distinguished himself as one of forty “King’s Scholars,” which entitled him to free tuition at Westminster and entrée to Cambridge University. Nonetheless, at the age of sixteen he abandoned Cambridge. At seventeen, Churchill and his childhood sweetheart Martha Scott ran away to London and entered into a clandestine marriage. (A few years later such marriages, held outside any church and performed by impecunious clergy residing in debtors’ prison, were outlawed in the Clandestine Marriages Act of 1754.) Churchill and his bride returned home to his indulgent father, and the penniless youth prepared to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, he felt no religious calling, and eventually rebelled.
After eight years with few works in print (notably The Actor, 1760), Churchill was set free by the success of his first major work, The Rosciad, which was published on March 14, 1761. The public was ready for an elegant neo-Classical satire in verse about the theatrical world of the day: Witty portraits of all the leading actors, actresses, and producers, were interspersed with thoughtful meditations. The Rosciad was the talk of London. The thirst of a city of passionate theatergoers, raised in the traditions of both Restoration theater and Shakespearean repertory, demanded more works from Churchill, who obliged with The Apology (1761) and numerous additions to The Rosciad. A polemical war boiled up, as critics, poets and playwrights formed two camps: Churchill and his friends, including Robert Lloyd, George Colman, and the actor-dramatist David Garrick, versus the allegedly dull and retrograde Dr. Samuel Johnson, artist William Hogarth, and poet Thomas Gray.
Once financially independent, Churchill left his wife and children, as well as his ecclesiastical career, to pursue a flamboyant bohemian life. His excesses led to syphilis and obesity, but his mind remained sharp for his few remaining years. His circle, now known as “the London geniuses,” expanded to include the flamboyant political figure John Wilkes, who was a supporter of freedom for the American colonies and a free-thinker in every sense of the term. A radical periodical, The North Briton, founded by Wilkes and edited by him and Churchill in 1762 and 1763, became the chief organ of polemic against the government of King George III.
Churchill’s contributions to The North Briton proved him to be a master of prose. However, he returned to poetry, now in the cause of political satire, and surpassed his theatrical critiques with such political works as The Ghost (1762-1763), The Prophecy of Famine (1763), The Duellist [sic] (1764), Gotham (1764) and The Candidate (1764). He died from a fever (probably typhus) at the age of thirty-two while he was on his way to visit Wilkes in Paris.