Philip Frowde
Encyclopedia
Philip Frowde was a poet.
Frowde was the son of Philip Frowde, deputy postmaster-general from 1678 to 1688. His grandfather, Colonel Philip Frowde, for his faithful adherence to Charles I
and Charles II
was knighted on 10 March 1664–5, and appointed governor of the post office.
From Eton
, where young Philip was contemporary with Walpole, Frowde passed to Magdalen College, Oxford
, as a gentleman-commoner, and became one of Addison's pupils. He did not take a degree. To vol. ii. of ‘Musarum Anglicanarum Analecta,’ 8vo, Oxford, 1699, edited by Addison, Frowde contributed (pp. 145–7) ‘Cursus Glacialis, Anglicè, Scating.’ In May 1720 Curll published these justly admired verses as Addison's, together with an English version also supposed to be Addison's, and an impudent preface by one T. N., who states that although Addison was well known to be the author, he had always allowed Frowde to pass them as his own. An anonymous imitation in English appeared in 1774; there is also a translation in ‘Miscellanea,’ by J[ames] G[lassford], 4to, Edinburgh, 1818 (pp. 24–9). Frowde wrote likewise a frosty blank verse tragedy entitled ‘The Fall of Saguntum,’ 8vo, London, 1727, in which the influence of ‘Cato’ is clearly perceptible. It was acted at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 16 Jan. 1726–7, Quin representing Eurydamas and delivering the prologue by Theobald. The tragedy obtained only about three representations, and is chiefly remarkable for an exquisitely absurd dedication to Sir Robert Walpole, who is described as ‘bringing the learning and arts of Greece and Rome into the cabinet; either that to instruct in the depths of reasoning; or these in the rules of governing.’ Previously to its performance an enthusiastic friend, A. B., possibly Frowde himself, undertook to explain for the benefit of ‘a lady of quality’ the numerous histori- cal and classical allusions in the play in ‘The History of Saguntum,’ 8vo, London, 1727, in which he is also at pains to prove the dramatist's superiority over Silius Italicus, from whose ‘Punica’ the plot is partly derived. Another lugubrious tragedy in blank verse, ‘Philotas,’ 8vo, London, 1731 (another edition, 12mo, London, 1735), brought out at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 3 February 1730–1, with Quin again in the cast, met with an even colder reception, though it was suffered to run for six nights. Fielding has introduced an ironical encomium on ‘Philotas’ in ‘Joseph Andrews.’ Frowde died unmarried at his lodgings in Cecil Street, Strand, in December 1738, and was buried in the cemetery in Lamb's Conduit Fields. His portrait, by T. Murray, painted in 1732, was engraved by Faber in 1738.
Frowde was the son of Philip Frowde, deputy postmaster-general from 1678 to 1688. His grandfather, Colonel Philip Frowde, for his faithful adherence to Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
was knighted on 10 March 1664–5, and appointed governor of the post office.
From Eton
Eton
Eton commonly refers to Eton College, a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England.Eton may also refer to:-Places:*Eton, Berkshire, a town in Berkshire, England*Eton, Georgia, a town in the United States...
, where young Philip was contemporary with Walpole, Frowde passed to Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, as a gentleman-commoner, and became one of Addison's pupils. He did not take a degree. To vol. ii. of ‘Musarum Anglicanarum Analecta,’ 8vo, Oxford, 1699, edited by Addison, Frowde contributed (pp. 145–7) ‘Cursus Glacialis, Anglicè, Scating.’ In May 1720 Curll published these justly admired verses as Addison's, together with an English version also supposed to be Addison's, and an impudent preface by one T. N., who states that although Addison was well known to be the author, he had always allowed Frowde to pass them as his own. An anonymous imitation in English appeared in 1774; there is also a translation in ‘Miscellanea,’ by J[ames] G[lassford], 4to, Edinburgh, 1818 (pp. 24–9). Frowde wrote likewise a frosty blank verse tragedy entitled ‘The Fall of Saguntum,’ 8vo, London, 1727, in which the influence of ‘Cato’ is clearly perceptible. It was acted at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 16 Jan. 1726–7, Quin representing Eurydamas and delivering the prologue by Theobald. The tragedy obtained only about three representations, and is chiefly remarkable for an exquisitely absurd dedication to Sir Robert Walpole, who is described as ‘bringing the learning and arts of Greece and Rome into the cabinet; either that to instruct in the depths of reasoning; or these in the rules of governing.’ Previously to its performance an enthusiastic friend, A. B., possibly Frowde himself, undertook to explain for the benefit of ‘a lady of quality’ the numerous histori- cal and classical allusions in the play in ‘The History of Saguntum,’ 8vo, London, 1727, in which he is also at pains to prove the dramatist's superiority over Silius Italicus, from whose ‘Punica’ the plot is partly derived. Another lugubrious tragedy in blank verse, ‘Philotas,’ 8vo, London, 1731 (another edition, 12mo, London, 1735), brought out at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 3 February 1730–1, with Quin again in the cast, met with an even colder reception, though it was suffered to run for six nights. Fielding has introduced an ironical encomium on ‘Philotas’ in ‘Joseph Andrews.’ Frowde died unmarried at his lodgings in Cecil Street, Strand, in December 1738, and was buried in the cemetery in Lamb's Conduit Fields. His portrait, by T. Murray, painted in 1732, was engraved by Faber in 1738.