Joseph Warton
Encyclopedia
Joseph Warton was an English academic and literary critic.
He was born in Dunsfold
, Surrey
, England, but his family soon moved to Hampshire
, where his father, the Reverend Thomas Warton
, became vicar of Basingstoke
. There, a few years later, Joseph's younger brother, the more famous Thomas Warton
, was born. Their father later became an Oxford
professor.
Joseph was educated at Winchester College
and at Oriel College, Oxford, and followed his father into the church, becoming curate of Winslade
in 1748. In 1754, he was instituted as rector at The Church of All Saints, Tunworth
. In his early days Joseph wrote poetry, of which the most notable piece is The Enthusiast (1744), an early precursor of Romanticism
. In 1755, he returned to his old school to teach, and from 1766 to 1793 was its headmaster, but it was a role in which he did not distinguish himself. His career as a critic was always more illustrious, and he published editions of classical poets such as Virgil
as well as English poets including John Dryden
. Like his brother, he was a friend of Samuel Johnson
.
He was born in Dunsfold
Dunsfold
Dunsfold is a village in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, 8.7 miles south of Guildford. The census area Chiddingfold and Dunsfold has a population of 3,812.-History:...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England, but his family soon moved to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, where his father, the Reverend Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton the elder
Thomas Warton, the elder was an English clergyman and schoolmaster, known as the second professor of poetry at Oxford, a position he owed to Jacobite sympathies.-Life:He was born about 1688, son of Antony Warton , vicar of Godalming...
, became vicar of Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
. There, a few years later, Joseph's younger brother, the more famous Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. From 1785 to 1790 he was the Poet Laureate of England...
, was born. Their father later became an Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
professor.
Joseph was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and at Oriel College, Oxford, and followed his father into the church, becoming curate of Winslade
Winslade
Winslade is a hamlet and civil parish in the Basingstoke and Deane district of Hampshire, England. It lies south of Basingstoke and covers an area of...
in 1748. In 1754, he was instituted as rector at The Church of All Saints, Tunworth
Tunworth
Tunworth is a hamlet and civil parish in Hampshire.-Location:Tunworth is located in North East Hampshire. Tunworth is located approximately from Basingstoke, the nearest major town...
. In his early days Joseph wrote poetry, of which the most notable piece is The Enthusiast (1744), an early precursor of Romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
. In 1755, he returned to his old school to teach, and from 1766 to 1793 was its headmaster, but it was a role in which he did not distinguish himself. His career as a critic was always more illustrious, and he published editions of classical poets such as Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
as well as English poets including John Dryden
John Dryden
John Dryden was an influential English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.Walter Scott called him "Glorious John." He was made Poet...
. Like his brother, he was a friend of 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...
.
Works
Each year links to its corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:- The Enthusiast, or The Lover of Nature (17441744 in poetryNationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Colonial America:* John Armstrong, The Art of Preserving Health...
) - Odes on Various Subjects (17461746 in poetryNationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Lucy Terry writes the first known poem by an African American, "Bars Fight, August 28, 1746", about an Indian massacre of two white families in Deerfield, Massachusetts; the ballad was related orally...
) - Essay on the Genius and Writings of PopeAlexander PopeAlexander 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...
(volume 1: 17561756 in poetryNationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Starting this year, English poet Christopher Smart is confined in St. Luke's Hospital, an asylum, after developing a religious mania. Among other things, he had been stopping strangers in Hyde Park...
; volume 2: 17821782 in poetryNationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-United Kingdom:*William Cowper...
)