James Ralph facts for kids

James Ralph (1705 – 1762) was an American-born English writer. He wrote about politics and history. He was also a reviewer and a professional writer. Ralph is known for his important history books, like his History of England. He also wrote The Case of the Authors by Profession, which talked about the challenges writers faced.

Early Life in America

James Ralph was likely born in New Jersey around 1705, possibly in Elizabethtown. Some say he was born near Philadelphia. In 1724, he married Mary Ogden in Elizabethtown, and their daughter, Mary Ralph, was born that same year.

Around this time, Ralph was also working in Philadelphia as a clerk. He was part of a writing group that included Benjamin Franklin. Franklin later described Ralph as a very good speaker. In 1724, Ralph had a disagreement with his wife's family. He then traveled to London with Franklin, though he did keep in touch with his daughter later.

Starting Out in London

When James Ralph arrived in London, he tried to find work as a writer or actor, but it was difficult. Benjamin Franklin helped him by lending him money. Ralph eventually found a job as a school teacher in Berkshire.

Franklin returned to America in 1726, but Ralph stayed in London. He tried to become a poet. In 1727, he wrote a poem called The Tempest. The next year, 1728, he wrote Night.

In 1728, a famous poet named Alexander Pope published a satirical poem called The Dunciad. Ralph wrote a poem called Sawney that seemed to defend other professional writers from Pope's attacks. Pope noticed Sawney and wrote about Ralph in a later version of The Dunciad. Pope made fun of Ralph's writing, which Ralph felt hurt his chances of getting his work published.

Working with Henry Fielding

In 1728, Ralph published The Touchstone, a funny guide to London. This book caught the attention of Henry Fielding, a well-known writer. Ralph's ideas in The Touchstone may have inspired Fielding's play Tragedy of Tragedies.

Fielding and Ralph became good friends. Ralph even wrote the introduction for Fielding's play The Temple Beau. Ralph also owned parts of Fielding's Little Theatre in Haymarket.

In 1730, Ralph wrote a musical play called The Fashionable Lady. It was performed in London and was somewhat successful. Ralph also wrote for a newspaper called The Prompter while working with the Little Theatre.

Fielding and Ralph worked together a lot over the next few years. Ralph joined Fielding in opposing the government leader, Robert Walpole. In the 1730s, Ralph wrote for newspapers that were against Walpole's government.

In 1737, a new law called the Licensing Act 1737 limited plays and ended Fielding's theater career. After this, Ralph co-edited a newspaper called The Champion with Fielding. Ralph mainly wrote political essays for it, criticizing Walpole's government for its handling of the War of Jenkins' Ear and for being dishonest.

Political Writing and History

In 1742, James Ralph wrote a response to Sarah Churchill's book, criticizing her and her late husband as self-serving politicians. In 1743, Ralph started working with George Bubb Dodington, who became his supporter. Ralph edited a newspaper called Old England, which was supported by Dodington. Ralph became Dodington's personal secretary.

From 1744 to 1746, Ralph wrote one of his most important works, A history of England. This book was a direct response to other historians and offered a new perspective. Ralph's history was one of the first in English to look at the history of money and trade. He pointed out the dishonesty and unfair actions of many politicians. In 1744, Ralph also wrote The Use and Abuse of Parliaments, another long work that looked critically at the history of Parliament.

Ralph and Dodington later moved into opposition again. In 1747, Ralph started a newspaper called The Remembrancer, which supported Frederick, Prince of Wales. After the Prince's death in 1751, Ralph began working with the Duke of Bedford and William Beckford on another newspaper called The Protestor. Ralph was known for being a reliable writer for hire; once he was paid, he stayed loyal.

Life After Politics

Around 1753, James Ralph received a pension of £300, which meant he agreed to stop writing about politics.

In 1756, he started working as a reviewer for The Monthly Review. He reviewed books about history and politics, but he avoided writing about current political events. In his private letters, however, he still shared his strong political opinions. For example, in 1756, he even suggested that the Stamp tax should be expanded to the American colonies.

Ralph's second important work came out in 1758, called The Case of the Authors by Profession or Trade Stated. He published this book anonymously because of his past political writing. In it, he argued that the old system where wealthy people supported writers was ending. Writers now depended on booksellers and theater directors. He believed this forced writers to create works without much value or to write only what political groups wanted. This book was influential and showed the difficult conditions for writers at the time.

When George III became king, Ralph received a new pension.

James Ralph died in Chiswick on January 24, 1762. He was preparing to edit a new newspaper at the time. He was survived by his daughter from his first marriage in America, Mary Ralph Garrigues, and her children.

Selected works

• The Fashionable Lady (1730)
• The Fall of the Earl of Essex (1731)
• The Cornish Squire (1734)
• The Astrologer (1744)