James Cawthorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James Cawthorn |
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|---|---|
| Born | 1719  |
| Died | 1761 |
James Cawthorn (sometimes spelled Cawthorne) was an English poet and school master. He was born in Sheffield on November 4, 1719, and passed away in Tonbridge on April 15, 1761. He is known for his poems, which often imitated the style of another famous poet, Alexander Pope.
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James Cawthorn's Life Story
James Cawthorn grew up in Sheffield. His father was an upholsterer, someone who makes and repairs furniture. James first went to Sheffield Grammar School. In 1735, he moved to a school in Kirkby Lonsdale, where he started writing poetry.
Early Career and Education
His first published poem, "The Perjured Lover," came out in 1736. Sadly, no copies of this poem still exist today. In the same year, he began working as a teaching assistant in Rotherham. He later enrolled at Clare College, Cambridge, in 1738. However, he did not stay there long. He then became an assistant to Martin Clare, who ran a school in London. James later married Martin Clare's daughter, Mary.
Leading Tonbridge School
In 1743, James Cawthorn became the head master of Tonbridge School. By this time, he had become a priest. He also earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. One of his lasting achievements at the school was convincing the Governors to build a new library in 1756. This building is still used today as the Headmaster's house and the Skinners' Library.
Cawthorn started publishing a few poems and sermons. However, his poems were mostly read aloud during special visits from the Worshipful Company of Skinners. This group was the school's main supporter. It was said that James Cawthorn loved concerts and operas. He would sometimes ride all the way to London just to see a musical show. Then, he would ride back in time for school to start at seven the next morning!
His Final Years
Sadly, James Cawthorn died in April 1761. He was thrown from his horse in an accident. He is buried in Tonbridge church. A Latin message on a marble tablet marks his grave.
James Cawthorn's Poetry
James Cawthorn's poems were not collected and printed until 1771, after his death. Most of his poems were about morals and ethics. They were written in a style similar to Alexander Pope. Sometimes, his imitations were so close that they seemed to come from memory rather than his own ideas.
Echoes of Alexander Pope
For example, Cawthorn wrote "Abelard to Eloisa" (1747). This poem was a response to Pope's famous poem, "Eloisa to Abelard." Another poem, "Lady Jane Grey to Lord Guildford Dudley" (1753), also showed Pope's influence. Its first line, "From these dark cells in sable pomp arrayed," sounds a lot like a line from Pope's poem.
"On Taste" and New Fashions
One of Cawthorn's interesting poems is "On Taste" (1756). It starts by looking at Pope's ideas about taste. But then, Cawthorn adds his own funny observations about new trends. He talks about how people were becoming obsessed with Chinese styles, known as chinoiserie:
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- Of late, ‘tis true, quite sick of Rome and Greece,
- We fetch our models from the wise Chinese…
- Form’d on his plans, our farms and seats begin
- To match the boasted villas of Pekin,
- On every hill a spire-crown’d temple swells,
- Hung round with serpents and a fringe of bells…
- In Tartar huts our cows and horses lie,
- Our hogs are fatten’d in an Indian stye…
- While o’er our cabinets Confucius nods
- ‘Midst porcelain elephants and China gods.
This part of the poem shows how fashion was changing from the classical styles of Pope's time. Critics have noted that Cawthorn's poem cleverly captured these new trends.
Lasting Popularity
Cawthorn's "Abelard and Eloisa" was very popular. It was reprinted many times, even before his full collection came out in 1771. It appeared in The Poetical Calendar (1763) and George Pearch's Collection of Poems (1768). By 1781, it was even included with Pope's original poem in a popular book about Abelard and Heloise. This book continued to be printed in many countries for a long time.
The opening lines of "Abelard and Eloisa" were even set to music as a song called "Abelard: a sacred glee." The words appeared in songbooks, and both the words and music were still being published as late as 1843. Even though some critics felt the poem wasn't as good as Pope's, its long-lasting popularity shows it was a favorite for many years.
