Francis Fawkes
Encyclopedia
Francis Fawkes was an English poet
and translator
. Fawkes translated Anacreon, Sappho
, and other classics, modernised parts of the poems of Gavin Douglas
, and was the author of the well-known song, The Brown Jug, and of two poems, Bramham Park and Partridge Shooting. His translation of the Argonautica in rhymed couplets appeared in 1780.
, the son of Jeremiah Fawkes, for twenty-eight years rector of Warmsworth
, Doncaster, and was baptised at Warmsworth 4 April 1720. He was educated at Bury free school under the Rev. John Lister. On 16 March 1738 he was admitted as a sizar
to Jesus College, Cambridge
, where his tutor was the Rev. Richard Oakley. He took his degree of B.A in 1742, and proceeded M.A. in 1745.
He was ordained in the Church of England
, and took the curacy of Bramham
in Yorkshire. Fawkes lated held the curacy of Croydon
, where he came to the notice of Archbishop Thomas Herring
; he became vicar of Orpington
, Kent
. Fawkes remained at Orpington until April 1774, when, by the favour of Charles Plumptree, rector of Orpington and patron of the adjacent rectory of Hayes
, he was appointed to Hayes with the curacy of Downe. The other piece of clerical patronage which he received was a chaplaincy to the Princess Dowager of Wales.
He died on 26 August 1777, when his widow, formerly a Miss Purrier of Leeds, whom he married about 1760, was left with scanty resources. His library was sold in 1778.
, and his first production in literature is said to have been an anonymous poem describing the beauties of his house Bramham Park
, published in 1745. An elegy ‘Aurelius’ for Herring was printed in 1761 with the ‘Original Poems and Translations’ of Fawkes; and reprinted in 1763 in the volume of ‘Seven Sermons by Archbishop Herring’.
Fawkes was considered by his contemporaries the best translator since the days of Alexander Pope
, and Samuel Johnson
approved of his translation of Anacreon
.
His works were:
Fawkes's volume of original poems was embodied in the collection by Chalmers (vol. xvi.), some of them were included in John Nichols
's collection, viii. 88–93, and several of his translations, chiefly from ‘Menander,’ were reprinted in part i. of the ‘Comicorum Græcorum Fragmenta’ selected by James Bailey
(1840).
Lord Mahon
, later Earl of Stanhope, married Lady Hester Pitt, daughter of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
, whose seat was situated in Fawkes's parish of Hayes, on 19 December 1774, and some lines addressed to the bridegroom by Fawkes on this occasion are printed in the Chatham Correspondence, iv. 373. Great popularity attended his song of The Brown Jug, which began with the words
It was introduced by John O'Keeffe into his comic opera The Poor Soldier, which was played at Covent Garden Theatre for the first time on 4 November 1783. It was sung then by John Henry Johnstone, and it was later a favourite piece of Charles Incledon. During the debates on Catholic emancipation
the opening lines were quoted in the House of Commons by George Canning
to ridicule John Copley
: the punning imputation was that a speech by Copley was from a pamphlet of Henry Phillpotts
.
Attribution
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and translator
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
. Fawkes translated Anacreon, Sappho
Sappho
Sappho was an Ancient Greek poet, born on the island of Lesbos. Later Greeks included her in the list of nine lyric poets. Her birth was sometime between 630 and 612 BC, and it is said that she died around 570 BC, but little is known for certain about her life...
, and other classics, modernised parts of the poems of Gavin Douglas
Gavin Douglas
Gavin Douglas was a Scottish bishop, makar and translator. Although he had an important political career, it is for his poetry that he is now chiefly remembered. His principal pioneering achievement was the Eneados, a full and faithful vernacular translation of the Aeneid of Virgil and the first...
, and was the author of the well-known song, The Brown Jug, and of two poems, Bramham Park and Partridge Shooting. His translation of the Argonautica in rhymed couplets appeared in 1780.
Life
Fawkes was born near DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, the son of Jeremiah Fawkes, for twenty-eight years rector of Warmsworth
Warmsworth
Warmsworth is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 3,855. The main route to Warmsworth is the A1 and the A630. The River Don also runs next to Warmsworth, as well as a train line from Doncaster to Sheffield...
, Doncaster, and was baptised at Warmsworth 4 April 1720. He was educated at Bury free school under the Rev. John Lister. On 16 March 1738 he was admitted as a sizar
Sizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is a student who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined job....
to Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, where his tutor was the Rev. Richard Oakley. He took his degree of B.A in 1742, and proceeded M.A. in 1745.
He was ordained in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, and took the curacy of Bramham
Bramham cum Oglethorpe
Bramham cum Oglethorpe, more well known as just "Bramham", is a village and civil parish in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, West Yorkshire, England.- Overview :According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,715...
in Yorkshire. Fawkes lated held the curacy of Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, where he came to the notice of Archbishop Thomas Herring
Thomas Herring
Thomas Herring was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1747 to 1757.He was educated at Wisbech Grammar School and later Jesus College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he was a contemporary of Matthew Hutton, who succeeded him in turn in each of his dioceses...
; he became vicar of Orpington
Orpington
Orpington is a suburban town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms the southeastern edge of London's urban sprawl and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Fawkes remained at Orpington until April 1774, when, by the favour of Charles Plumptree, rector of Orpington and patron of the adjacent rectory of Hayes
Hayes, Bromley
Hayes is a place in the London Borough of Bromley, south-east London, England. It has two main areas of activity: the ancient village and suburban Hayes.-The ancient village of Nimrods :...
, he was appointed to Hayes with the curacy of Downe. The other piece of clerical patronage which he received was a chaplaincy to the Princess Dowager of Wales.
He died on 26 August 1777, when his widow, formerly a Miss Purrier of Leeds, whom he married about 1760, was left with scanty resources. His library was sold in 1778.
Works
He was a sort of chaplain to George Fox-LaneGeorge Fox-Lane, 1st Baron Bingley
George Lane-Fox, 1st Baron Bingley was a British peer and Tory politician.Born George Fox, he was the first son and heir of Henry Fox and his second wife, Hon. Frances née Lane, the daughter of George Lane, 1st Viscount Lanesborough. From 1734 to 1741, he was Member of Parliament for Hindon and...
, and his first production in literature is said to have been an anonymous poem describing the beauties of his house Bramham Park
Bramham Park
Bramham Park is a country house between Leeds and Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England. The Baroque mansion was built in 1698 by Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley. It has remained in the ownership of Benson's descendents since its completion in 1710...
, published in 1745. An elegy ‘Aurelius’ for Herring was printed in 1761 with the ‘Original Poems and Translations’ of Fawkes; and reprinted in 1763 in the volume of ‘Seven Sermons by Archbishop Herring’.
Fawkes was considered by his contemporaries the best translator since the days of Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
, and Samuel 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...
approved of his translation of Anacreon
Anacreon
Anacreon was a Greek lyric poet, notable for his drinking songs and hymns. Later Greeks included him in the canonical list of nine lyric poets.- Life :...
.
His works were:
- ‘A Description of May from Gawin Douglas’ (modernised), by F. Fawkes, 1752; with poetic dedication to William Dixon of Loversal, a Yorkshire friend.
- ‘A Description of Winter from Gawin Douglas,’ 1754, modernised in style and dedicated to ‘the Rev. John Lister, A.M., formerly my preceptor.’ The ‘Description of May’ was included among the reprints of the Aungervyle Society.
- ‘Works of Anacreon, Sappho, Bion, Moschus, and Musæus translated into English by a gentleman of Cambridge,’ 1760. Many of the odes were translated by him during his college days, and in some instances he reprinted the versions of William BroomeWilliam BroomeWilliam Broome was an English poet and translator. He was born in Haslington, near Crewe, Cheshire and died in Bath.He was educated at Eton and Cambridge, entered the Church, and became rector of Sturston in Suffolk, and later Pulham in Norfolk and Eye in Suffolk...
and other writers; 2nd edit. with his name, 1789. Fawkes's translation was printed in France in 1835 and included in the ‘Collections of the British Poets’ by Robert AndersonRobert Anderson (author)Robert Anderson was a Scottish author and critic.He was born at Carnwath, Lanarkshire. He studied first divinity and then medicine at the University of Edinburgh, and subsequently, after some experience as a surgeon, took his M.D. at the University of St Andrews in 1778...
(vol. xiii.) and Alexander ChalmersAlexander ChalmersAlexander Chalmers was a Scottish writer.He was born in Aberdeen.Trained as a doctor, he gave up medicine for journalism, and was for some time editor of the Morning Herald...
(vol. xx.), and in the ‘Greek and Roman Poets’ of Charles WhittinghamCharles WhittinghamCharles Whittingham was an English printer.-Biography:He was born at Caludon or Calledon, Warwickshire, the son of a farmer, and was apprenticed to a Coventry printer and bookseller...
(vol. xiv.). His version of BionBionBion , Greek bucolic poet, was a native of the city of Smyrna and flourished about 100 BC. Most of his work is lost. There remain 17 fragments and the Epitaph of Adonis, a mythological poem on the death of Adonis and the lament of Aphrodite...
, MoschusMoschusMoschus , ancient Greek bucolic poet and student of the Alexandrian grammarian Aristarchus of Samothrace, was born at Syracuse and flourished about 150 BC...
, SapphoSapphoSappho was an Ancient Greek poet, born on the island of Lesbos. Later Greeks included her in the list of nine lyric poets. Her birth was sometime between 630 and 612 BC, and it is said that she died around 570 BC, but little is known for certain about her life...
, and Musæus was published with translations of HesiodHesiodHesiod was a Greek oral poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. His is the first European poetry in which the poet regards himself as a topic, an individual with a distinctive role to play. Ancient authors credited him and...
by Charles Abraham EltonCharles Abraham EltonSir Charles Abraham Elton, 6th Baronet was an English officer in the British Army and an author.-Life:Charles was eldest of three sons of the Rev. Sir Abraham Elton, 5th of the Elton Baronets, by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Durbin, alderman of Bristol, and was born at Bristol on 31 October 1778...
, and of LycophronLycophronLycophron was a Hellenistic Greek tragic poet, grammarian, and commentator on comedy, to whom the poem Alexandra is attributed .-Life and miscellaneous works:...
by Philip Yorke, Viscount RoystonPhilip Yorke, Viscount RoystonPhilip Yorke, Viscount Royston , was a British politician.Yorke was the eldest son of Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke, by Lady Elizabeth, daughter of James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres. He was the grandson of Charles Yorke and the nephew of Charles Philip Yorke and Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke...
in 1832. - ‘Original Poems and Translations,’ 1761. Many of the original pieces were humorous; the translations were chiefly from ‘Menander’ and from the Latin poems of Christopher SmartChristopher SmartChristopher Smart , also known as "Kit Smart", "Kitty Smart", and "Jack Smart", was an English poet. He was a major contributor to two popular magazines and a friend to influential cultural icons like Samuel Johnson and Henry Fielding. Smart, a high church Anglican, was widely known throughout...
. - ‘The Complete Family Bible, with Notes Theological, Moral, Critical,’ &c. 1761. To this production, which came out in sixty weekly numbers, he sold his name for money, and there was an edition in 1765 ‘with notes taken from Fawkes.’
- ‘The Poetical Calendar,’ intended as a supplement to Robert DodsleyRobert DodsleyRobert Dodsley was an English bookseller and miscellaneous writer.-Life:He was born near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where his father was master of the free school....
's collection; selected by Fawkes and William WotyWilliam WotyWilliam Woty was an English law clerk and hack writer, known for light verse.-Life:Among his poems is an elegy on his schoolmaster, who lived near Alton, Hampshire. He came to London as a clerk or writer to a solicitor. He began speaking in debating societies and contributing short poems to...
, 1763, 12 vols. To the twelfth volume of this collection Samuel Johnson contributed a character of William CollinsWilliam Collins (poet)William Collins was an English poet. Second in influence only to Thomas Gray, he was an important poet of the middle decades of the 18th century...
, which later formed the basis of the life of Collins in the Lives of the Poets. - ‘Poetical Magazine, or the Muses' Monthly Companion,’ vol. i. 1764. It lasted for six months, January to June 1764. In this undertaking Fawkes was again associated with Woty.
- ‘Partridge-Shooting,’ an eclogue to the Hon. Charles YorkeCharles YorkeCharles Yorke was Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.-Life:The second son of Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, he was born in London, and was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. His literary abilities were shown at an early age by his collaboration with his brother Philip in the...
, 1764. This piece was suggested by Yorke. - ‘The Works of Horace in English Verse, by Mr. Duncombe and other hands,’ to which are added many imitations, 1767, 4 vols. Some of the translations and imitations are by Fawkes.
- ‘The Idylliums of Theocritus, translated by Francis Fawkes,’ 1767. In this translation he had the assistance of friends, including Zachary PearceZachary PearceZachary Pearce, sometimes known as Zachariah , was an English Bishop of Bangor and Bishop of Rochester. He was a controversialist and a notable early critical writer defending John Milton, attacking Richard Bentley's 1732 edition of Paradise Lost the following year.-Life:Pearce was born the son of...
, John JortinJohn Jortin-Life:Jortin was the son of Renatus Jordain, a French Huguenot refugee and government official, and Martha Rogers, daughter of Daniel Rogers. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he became a Fellow in 1721. He was Rede lecturer at Cambridge in 1724, and Boyle lecturer in 1749...
, and Samuel Johnson. It was dedicated to Charles Yorke. - Apollonius Rhodius translated into English, published after his death in 1780, revised by Henry Meen for Fawkes's widow.
Fawkes's volume of original poems was embodied in the collection by Chalmers (vol. xvi.), some of them were included in John Nichols
John Nichols (printer)
John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
's collection, viii. 88–93, and several of his translations, chiefly from ‘Menander,’ were reprinted in part i. of the ‘Comicorum Græcorum Fragmenta’ selected by James Bailey
James Bailey (classical scholar)
-Life:He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. 1814, M.A. 1823, and obtained the Browne medals for Greek ode and epigrams, and the members' prizes in 1815 and 1816...
(1840).
Lord Mahon
Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl Stanhope
Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl Stanhope aka Charles Mahon, 3rd Earl Stanhope FRS was a British statesman and scientist. He was the father of the great traveller and Arabist Lady Hester Stanhope and brother-in-law of William Pitt the Younger. He is sometimes confused with an exact contemporary of his,...
, later Earl of Stanhope, married Lady Hester Pitt, daughter of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
, whose seat was situated in Fawkes's parish of Hayes, on 19 December 1774, and some lines addressed to the bridegroom by Fawkes on this occasion are printed in the Chatham Correspondence, iv. 373. Great popularity attended his song of The Brown Jug, which began with the words
- Dear Tom, this brown jug that now foams with mild ale
- Was once Toby Fillpott.
It was introduced by John O'Keeffe into his comic opera The Poor Soldier, which was played at Covent Garden Theatre for the first time on 4 November 1783. It was sung then by John Henry Johnstone, and it was later a favourite piece of Charles Incledon. During the debates on Catholic emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
the opening lines were quoted in the House of Commons by George Canning
George Canning
George Canning PC, FRS was a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly Prime Minister.-Early life: 1770–1793:...
to ridicule John Copley
John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst
John Singleton Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst PC KS FRS , was a British lawyer and politician. He was three times Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.-Background and education:...
: the punning imputation was that a speech by Copley was from a pamphlet of Henry Phillpotts
Henry Phillpotts
Henry Phillpotts , often called "Henry of Exeter", was the Anglican Bishop of Exeter from 1830 to 1869. He was England's longest serving bishop since the 14th century and a striking figure of the 19th century Church.- Early life :...
.
External links
- Translations by Francis Fawkes available for pdf download from the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
Attribution