Francis Tolson facts for kids

Francis Tolson was an English writer who lived a long time ago, in the 1700s. He wrote many different things, like poems and plays. He was also a church leader, serving as a vicar and a chaplain to an important person called the Earl of Sussex.

Who Was Francis Tolson?

Francis Tolson was active as a writer between 1719 and 1745. He was known as a poet, which means he wrote poems. He was also a dramatist, which is another word for a playwright – someone who writes plays for the theater. Besides his writing, Tolson had roles in the church. He was the Vicar of a place called Easton Maudit. A vicar is a type of priest in the Church of England who is in charge of a local church. He also served as a Chaplain to the Earl of Sussex. A chaplain is a special priest who provides religious services for a specific person or group, like a noble family or a military unit.

His Creative Works

Francis Tolson wrote several books and plays during his life. His works give us a peek into the kinds of stories and ideas that were popular in England in the 1700s. He wrote about different topics, from exciting adventures to moral lessons.

Poems and Plays

One of his early works was a long poem called Octavius Prince of Syra: Or, a Lash for Levi. This was published in 1719. In the same year, he also wrote a play for the theater titled The Earl of Warwick: Or, British Exile. This play was performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, which was a famous theater in London. In 1720, he wrote another poem, this time about a political event: A Poem on His Majesty's Passing the South-Sea Bill. This poem likely celebrated a new law or decision made by the King about a big financial company of that time.

Books of Wisdom

Later in his career, Francis Tolson focused on a different kind of writing. In 1739, he announced plans to print a book called Hermathenæ: Or, One Hundred and Twenty Moral Emblems, and Ethnick Tales. This book was finally published in 1740 with the full title Hermathenæ, Or Moral Emblems, and Ethnick Tales, with Explanatory Notes. Emblems are like pictures with short sayings or stories that teach a moral lesson. "Ethnick Tales" likely refers to stories from different cultures or ancient times that also contained lessons. These types of books were popular for teaching people about good behavior and wisdom.