Nicholas Rowe (writer)
Nicholas Rowe was born on the 20th of June 1674 in Little Barford, Bedfordshire. His father John worked as a barrister and sergeant-at-law before dying in 1692. The family held a significant estate at Lamerton in Devonshire. Young Nicholas attended Highgate School and later Westminster School under Richard Busby. He entered Middle Temple in 1691 to study law. His father had decided this path for him while he was still alive. At Middle Temple, Rowe read statutes with great proficiency. He viewed law not merely as precedents but as a system of rational government. When his father died, nineteen-year-old Rowe inherited an independent fortune. This inheritance freed him from legal obligations. He abandoned the law to pursue poetry instead.
Rowe served as under-secretary between 1709 and 1711 to the Duke of Queensberry. The Duke acted as principal secretary of state for Scotland during that period. Upon the accession of King George I, Rowe became a surveyor of customs. In 1715, he succeeded Nahum Tate as poet laureate. He also held the position of clerk of the council to the Prince of Wales. Lord Chancellor Parker nominated him as clerk of the presentations in Chancery in 1718. These roles placed him within the highest circles of English administration. His literary talents complemented his official duties effectively. The Crown recognized his service through these appointments. Rowe maintained these positions until his death on the 6th of December 1718. A monument by John Michael Rysbrack now stands in Westminster Abbey near his burial site.
The Ambitious Stepmother opened at Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1700 with Thomas Betterton producing it. Set in Persepolis, this play received favorable reviews from early audiences. Tamerlane followed in 1701 and represented William III as Timur. Louis XIV appeared in the role of Bajazet within that same work. Performances of Tamerlane often occurred on the anniversary of William's landing at Torbay. A riot erupted in Dublin during a 1712 performance due to high political tensions. Samuel Johnson later praised The Fair Penitent as one of the most pleasing tragedies ever written. This adaptation featured Lothario, whose name became synonymous with a rake. Calista inspired Samuel Richardson to create Clarissa Harlowe. Jane Shore ran for nineteen nights at Drury Lane in 1714. Anne Oldfield played the title role in that production. It remained on stage longer than any other of Rowe's works. Lady Jane Grey closed his career in tragedy after an unsuccessful run in 1715.
Rowe published the first eighteenth-century edition of William Shakespeare between 1709 and 1710. Jacob Tonson printed these seven volumes containing plays and poems. He is considered the first editor of Shakespeare's complete works. His practical knowledge of the stage helped him divide plays into scenes. He noted entrances and exits of players throughout the text. Spelling of names was normalized across all entries. Each play received a list of dramatis personae before its start. This edition included frontispiece engravings for every single play. Unfortunately, Rowe based his text on the corrupt Fourth Folio. Many later editors followed this same editorial path. He also wrote Some Account of the Life &c. of Mr. William Shakespear as a biography. This work provided context for readers approaching the plays. The edition established standards for future scholarly editions.
Samuel Johnson called Rowe's translation of Lucan's Pharsalia one of the greatest productions in English poetry. This verse paraphrase ran through eight editions between 1718 and 1807. Widely read copies circulated among educated audiences during that century. Rowe adapted odes from Horace to fit contemporary events. He translated Caractères by Jean de La Bruyère into English. Claude Quillet's Callipaedia appeared in translation under his name. A version of Boileau's Lutrin included a memoir prefixed to the translation. Poems on Several Occasions arrived in 1714 with various dedications. An Ode for the New Year MDCCXVI followed in 1716. These works demonstrated his versatility beyond dramatic writing. His poetic output remained influential throughout the Augustan Age. Critics continued to reference these translations decades after publication.
Rowe married Antonia Parsons in 1695 and they had a son named John born in 1699. John later married Mary Hambly Rowe and fathered eight children. Antonia died in 1706 leaving Rowe widowed. He remarried Anne Devenish in 1717 and they had a daughter Charlotte. Charlotte died in 1739 at age twenty-two leaving two grandchildren. The inscription on his tomb mentions both him and his only daughter. His widow received a pension from George I in 1719. This payment recognized her husband's translation of Lucan. King George I honored the family after Rowe's death. They buried him in Westminster Abbey where he rests today. The monument bears verses praising his genius and love. Posthumous recognition came through royal benevolence and public memory.
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Common questions
When was Nicholas Rowe born and where did he grow up?
Nicholas Rowe was born on the 20th of June 1674 in Little Barford, Bedfordshire. He grew up with a family estate at Lamerton in Devonshire before attending Highgate School and Westminster School.
What official positions did Nicholas Rowe hold during his career?
Nicholas Rowe served as under-secretary to the Duke of Queensberry between 1709 and 1711 and later became surveyor of customs upon the accession of King George I. He succeeded Nahum Tate as poet laureate in 1715 and held the position of clerk of the council to the Prince of Wales until his death on the 6th of December 1718.
Which plays by Nicholas Rowe were most successful or notable?
Jane Shore ran for nineteen nights at Drury Lane in 1714 and remained on stage longer than any other work by Nicholas Rowe. The Fair Penitent received praise from Samuel Johnson while Tamerlane often performed on the anniversary of William's landing at Torbay.
How did Nicholas Rowe edit Shakespeare's works and what edition did he publish?
Nicholas Rowe published the first eighteenth-century edition of William Shakespeare between 1709 and 1710 containing seven volumes of plays and poems. He based this text on the corrupt Fourth Folio but normalized spelling and added dramatis personae lists to establish standards for future scholarly editions.
Who was married to Nicholas Rowe and how many children did they have?
Nicholas Rowe married Antonia Parsons in 1695 and they had a son named John born in 1699 before she died in 1706. He remarried Anne Devenish in 1717 and they had a daughter named Charlotte who died in 1739 at age twenty-two.