Bonnell Thornton
Encyclopedia
Bonnell Thornton was an English poet, essayist, and critic. He was educated at Westminster School
, and at Oxford University.
In 1752 he founded the Drury Lane Journal, a satirical periodical which, among other things, lampooned other journals such as Johnson
's Rambler, The Gentleman's Magazine
and The London Magazine. A total of 12 issues were published between January and April, 1752. From 1754 to 1756 he published, with George Colman
, a six-page weekly serial, The Connoisseur, which, although criticised by Dr. Johnson for lack of substance, ran to an impressive 140 issues. He was a frequent contributor to The Gentleman's Magazine.
Thornton was also a member of the satirical Nonsense Club
of Old Westminster men with George Colman
, William Cowper
, Charles Churchill and Robert Lloyd
.
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, and at Oxford University.
In 1752 he founded the Drury Lane Journal, a satirical periodical which, among other things, lampooned other journals such as Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
's Rambler, The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term "magazine" for a periodical...
and The London Magazine. A total of 12 issues were published between January and April, 1752. From 1754 to 1756 he published, with George Colman
George Colman the Elder
George Colman was an English dramatist and essayist, usually called "the Elder", and sometimes "George the First", to distinguish him from his son, George Colman the Younger....
, a six-page weekly serial, The Connoisseur, which, although criticised by Dr. Johnson for lack of substance, ran to an impressive 140 issues. He was a frequent contributor to The Gentleman's Magazine.
Thornton was also a member of the satirical Nonsense Club
Nonsense Club
The Nonsense Club was a scandalous club of 18th century British satirists centred around Westminster School. Its members included the satirists and poets Charles Churchill and Robert Lloyd, the parodist Bonnell Thornton, the nature poet William Cowper, and the dramatist George Colman. Some of...
of Old Westminster men with George Colman
George Colman the Elder
George Colman was an English dramatist and essayist, usually called "the Elder", and sometimes "George the First", to distinguish him from his son, George Colman the Younger....
, William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry...
, Charles Churchill and Robert Lloyd
Robert Lloyd (poet)
Robert Lloyd was an English poet and satirist.-Life:Robert Lloyd was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1755 and M.A. in 1758. He was author of the popular poem The Actor and the comic opera The Capricious Lovers , first performed at Drury Lane just...
.
External links
- Bonnell Thornton at James Boswell - a Guide