Fettiplace Bellers facts for kids
Fettiplace Bellers (born September 23, 1687 – died around 1742) was an English writer who created plays and wrote about philosophy. His most famous work was a big book of ideas called "A Delineation of Universal Law."
Contents
Who Was Fettiplace Bellers?
Fettiplace Bellers was a thinker and writer from England. He lived a long time ago, in the late 1600s and early 1700s. He is known for his philosophical writings. He also wrote a play that was performed in London.
Early Life and Family
Bellers was born in London on September 23, 1687. His parents were John and Frances Bellers. His father, John Bellers, was a well-known writer. John wrote many articles about helping poor people. Fettiplace's parents were part of a religious group called the Society of Friends, also known as Quakers.
Fettiplace Bellers later left the Quaker faith. This might be why his play was called "Injur'd Innocence" (meaning "hurt innocence").
His Play: Injur'd Innocence
Fettiplace Bellers wrote a play called "Injur'd Innocence, a tragedy." It was performed in London in February 1732. The play was shown at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, a famous theater.
Some parts of his play were inspired by an older play. Even though it was performed several times, it wasn't a big success.
His Big Book: A Delineation of Universal Law
Bellers' most important work was a large book of philosophy. It was titled "A Delineation of Universal Law." This long title means "An Explanation of Universal Rules." The book explored ideas about natural law.
What Was the Book About?
The book was like a guide to understanding laws. It was divided into five main parts:
- Law in general (what law is)
- Private law (rules for individuals)
- Criminal law (rules about crimes)
- Laws of magistracy (rules for leaders and judges)
- Law of nations (rules between countries)
Bellers spent about 20 years working on this huge project. He wanted to explain how laws connect to basic knowledge.
When Was It Published?
"A Delineation of Universal Law" was published in 1750. This was after Bellers had passed away. The book was printed by Robert Dodsley, a well-known publisher.
Earlier versions or parts of the book might have been shared before. The book was popular enough to have new editions printed in 1754 and 1759.
What People Thought of His Work
Some people had different opinions about Bellers' book. One writer, Lowndes, called it an "excellent outline." This means he thought it was a very good summary of ideas.
However, another writer named Marvin felt differently. He thought it was a shame that Bellers spent so much time on the book. Marvin believed that all his hard work didn't lead to a very useful result.
His Later Years and Legacy
The advertisement for his book in 1750 stated that Bellers had already died. However, records from the Royal Society (a famous scientific group) showed something confusing. They said he was elected a member in 1711 and left the society in 1752.
This puzzle was solved by an old letter. The letter showed that Fettiplace Bellers actually died before August 19, 1742. So, the Royal Society records were a bit off about when he left.
