Joseph Thurston (poet) facts for kids

Joseph Thurston (born 16 June 1704 – died 1732) was an English poet. A famous poet named Alexander Pope really liked his poems.

Life and Early Years

Joseph Thurston was born in Colchester, Essex. He was the oldest son of Joseph Thurston, a lawyer, and Mary Rebow. His grandfather was Sir Isaac Rebow, who was a Member of Parliament. Joseph's family in Colchester made their money selling woollen cloth, which was a big business back then.

Joseph went to Westminster School in London in 1716. Later, in 1720, he went to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, which is a famous university. Even though he studied law, he never became a lawyer.

Friends and Famous Poets

Joseph Thurston became good friends with William Broome, who was also a poet and translator. William Broome helped translate some very old and famous Greek stories, like the Iliad and the Odyssey, with Alexander Pope.

Through William Broome, Joseph Thurston got to know Alexander Pope. Pope was one of the most important poets in England at that time. Joseph Thurston published his first book of poems called Poems on Several Occasions in 1729. It included poems about love and other fun topics.

His Death

Joseph Thurston passed away on 22 December 1732. He was not married. He was buried a week later in Little Wenham, where his family lived. His mother, two sisters, and a younger brother named Thomas were still alive after him.

Another poet, Thomas Edwards, wrote about Joseph Thurston after he died. Edwards said that Alexander Pope believed Joseph Thurston was "the most promising Genius" (meaning a very talented person) that England had seen in a long time. Edwards also mentioned that Joseph was a very kind and modest person, and that talking to him was "exceedingly charming."