John Ellis (scrivener)
Encyclopedia
John Ellis was an English scrivener and literary figure.
entitled 'Marston Moore, sive de obsidione prœlioque Eboracensi carmen lib. 6,' 1660, which was published in 1750.
He began his business career as clerk or apprentice to John Taverner, a scrivener in Threadneedle Street
, and improved his knowledge of Latin by listening to the assistance which his master gave in his school-exercises to his son, who was a pupil at Merchant Taylors' School
.
Ellis was also for forty years an active member of the corporation of London, being elected a common councilman for Broad Street ward in 1750, and afterwards appointed alderman's deputy. The duties of the latter post he actively discharged until his resignation on St. Thomas's day 1790, not many days before his death. In January 1765 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of chamberlain of London.
, who visited him 4 October 1790, in his ninety-third year, found his judgment distinct and clear and his memory 'able to serve him very well after a little recollection' In the last year of his life his circumstances were reduced by a bankruptcy; but his friends relieved him.
Ellis died 31 December 1790, and was buried 5 January 1791 in the church of St Bartholomew by the Exchange.
and rector of St. Martin Outwich, their letters being frequently in verse. In 1742-3 he made a poetical translation of Dr. King's Templum Libertatis; like most of his literary efforts, was not printed. Another intimate friend was Moses Mendez, who addressed to him a poetical epistle describing a journey to Ireland, which, with Ellis's reply, also in verse, was printed in a 'Collection of Poems,' published in 1767.
Chief among the circle of his literary friends and admirers was Samuel Johnson
, who once said to Boswell, 'It is wonderful, sir, what is to be found in London. The most literary conversation that I ever enjoyed was at the table of Jack Ellis, a money-scrivener behind the Royal Exchange
, with whom I used to dine generally once a week.' Ellis, though not ambitious of publication, did not discontinue writing verses for more than seventy years, and used to recite poems of a hundred lines after the age of eighty-eight years.
He also contributed several small pieces to Robert Dodsley
's 'Collection of Poems by several hands,' 6 vols., 1763, which were printed with his name in the sixth volume of the work. One of these, 'The Cheat's Apology,' was set to music and song by Joseph Vernon at Vauxhall Gardens
with much success. A short allegorical poem, 'Tartana, or the Plaidie,' was printed in 1782 in the European Magazine. A number of his versus, composed at various times for John Boydell
, Thomas Bowles, and other printers, were also printed. Besides many unpublished poems he left behind him versions of Æsop and Cato, and of portions of Ovid's 'Metamorphoses.' According to an unpublished poem addressed to EIlis by Moses Mendez, printed by 'W. C.' in 'Notes and Queries' (4th ser. vii. 5), he used to attend at the Cock tavern in Threadneedle Street every Friday evening at eight o'clock to enjoy the society of his literary friends; his cheerful and amiable disposition and large fund of anecdotes, which he told with great effect, making him a very agreeable companion.
Life
Ellis was the son of James and Susannah Ellis, born in the parish of St. Clement Danes, London, 22 March 1698. His father was unreliable, though a good swordsman; his mother, Susannah Philpot, was a fanatical dissenter. John was first sent to a day-school in Dogwell Court, Whitefriars, with a brother and two sisters, and later moved to another, not much superior, in Wine Office Court, Fleet Street. Here he learned the rudiments of grammar, and is said while at school to have translated a Latin poem of Payne FisherPayne Fisher
-Early life and education:Fisher was the son of Payne Fisher, one of the captains in the royal life guard while Charles I was in Oxfordshire, and grandson of Sir William Fisher, knight. He was born at Warnford, Dorset, in the house of his maternal grandfather, Sir Thomas Neale...
entitled 'Marston Moore, sive de obsidione prœlioque Eboracensi carmen lib. 6,' 1660, which was published in 1750.
He began his business career as clerk or apprentice to John Taverner, a scrivener in Threadneedle Street
Threadneedle Street
Threadneedle Street is a street in the City of London, leading from a junction with Poultry, Cornhill, King William Street and Lombard Street, to Bishopsgate....
, and improved his knowledge of Latin by listening to the assistance which his master gave in his school-exercises to his son, who was a pupil at Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
.
In business and local government
The business of a scrivener was to make charters and deeds concerning lands and tenements and all other writings which by law are required to be sealed. Ellis outlived every member of the profession. On the death of his master Ellis succeeded to the business in partnership with young Taverner, whose imprudence involved him in loss. Ellis took an active part in the affairs of the Scriveners' Company, of which he was four times master.Ellis was also for forty years an active member of the corporation of London, being elected a common councilman for Broad Street ward in 1750, and afterwards appointed alderman's deputy. The duties of the latter post he actively discharged until his resignation on St. Thomas's day 1790, not many days before his death. In January 1765 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of chamberlain of London.
Later life
He lived for many years in Black Swan Court, and afterwards in Capel Court, Bartholomew Lane. Ellis was never married, and lived to an advanced age. Up to his eighty-fifth year he used frequently to walk thirty miles a day. James BoswellJames Boswell
James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland; he is best known for the biography he wrote of one of his contemporaries, the English literary figure Samuel Johnson....
, who visited him 4 October 1790, in his ninety-third year, found his judgment distinct and clear and his memory 'able to serve him very well after a little recollection' In the last year of his life his circumstances were reduced by a bankruptcy; but his friends relieved him.
Ellis died 31 December 1790, and was buried 5 January 1791 in the church of St Bartholomew by the Exchange.
Associations
Early literary friend were Dr. William King of Oxford and his pupil Lord Orrery, with whom Ellis frequently exchanged visits. He also corresponded on intimate terms with the Rev. N. Fayting, master of Merchant Taylors' SchoolMerchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
and rector of St. Martin Outwich, their letters being frequently in verse. In 1742-3 he made a poetical translation of Dr. King's Templum Libertatis; like most of his literary efforts, was not printed. Another intimate friend was Moses Mendez, who addressed to him a poetical epistle describing a journey to Ireland, which, with Ellis's reply, also in verse, was printed in a 'Collection of Poems,' published in 1767.
Chief among the circle of his literary friends and admirers was 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...
, who once said to Boswell, 'It is wonderful, sir, what is to be found in London. The most literary conversation that I ever enjoyed was at the table of Jack Ellis, a money-scrivener behind the Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange may refer to:*Royal Exchange, Belfast a major mixed-use regeneration scheme in the North East Quarter of Belfast City Centre*Royal Exchange, Manchester, a 19th century classical building, home of the Royal Exchange Theatre...
, with whom I used to dine generally once a week.' Ellis, though not ambitious of publication, did not discontinue writing verses for more than seventy years, and used to recite poems of a hundred lines after the age of eighty-eight years.
Works
His major work was a translation of 'Ovid's Epistles,' which Johnson frequently recommended him to publish. The few pieces he published were:- 'The South Sea Dream,' a poem in HudibrasticHudibrasticHudibrastic is a type of English verse named for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, published in parts from 1663 to 1678. For the poem, Butler invented a mock-heroic verse structure. Instead of pentameter, the lines were written in iambic tetrameter...
verse. - A verse translation from Latin of a broad jeu d'esprit entitled 'The Surprise, or the Gentleman turned Apothecary,' 1739, originally written in French prose.
- A travesty of Maphæus, published in 1758.
He also contributed several small pieces to Robert Dodsley
Robert Dodsley
Robert 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 of Poems by several hands,' 6 vols., 1763, which were printed with his name in the sixth volume of the work. One of these, 'The Cheat's Apology,' was set to music and song by Joseph Vernon at Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens was a pleasure garden, one of the leading venues for public entertainment in London, England from the mid 17th century to the mid 19th century. Originally known as New Spring Gardens, the site was believed to have opened before the Restoration of 1660 with the first mention being...
with much success. A short allegorical poem, 'Tartana, or the Plaidie,' was printed in 1782 in the European Magazine. A number of his versus, composed at various times for John Boydell
John Boydell
John Boydell was an 18th-century British publisher noted for his reproductions of engravings. He helped alter the trade imbalance between Britain and France in engravings and initiated a British tradition in the art form...
, Thomas Bowles, and other printers, were also printed. Besides many unpublished poems he left behind him versions of Æsop and Cato, and of portions of Ovid's 'Metamorphoses.' According to an unpublished poem addressed to EIlis by Moses Mendez, printed by 'W. C.' in 'Notes and Queries' (4th ser. vii. 5), he used to attend at the Cock tavern in Threadneedle Street every Friday evening at eight o'clock to enjoy the society of his literary friends; his cheerful and amiable disposition and large fund of anecdotes, which he told with great effect, making him a very agreeable companion.