Philip Frowde facts for kids
Philip Frowde was an English poet and writer who lived in the 1700s. He was known for his plays and poems. Frowde came from a family involved in important government roles. He also studied at famous schools like Eton College and Oxford University.
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Discovering Philip Frowde: An English Writer
Philip Frowde was born into an important family. His father, also named Philip Frowde, held a significant position as a leader in the postal service from 1678 to 1688. His grandfather, Colonel Philip Frowde, was even knighted by King Charles I and King Charles II. This was because of his strong loyalty to the kings. He also became the head of the post office.
Early Life and Education
Young Philip Frowde attended Eton College, a very famous school in England. While there, he was a classmate of Robert Walpole, who later became a very important political figure. After Eton, Frowde went to Magdalen College, Oxford. Here, he was a student of the famous writer Joseph Addison. Even though he studied at Oxford, Frowde did not complete a full degree.
Philip Frowde passed away in December 1738. He was living in London at the time and was buried in a cemetery called Lamb's Conduit Fields. He never married.
A Look at His Plays and Poems
Philip Frowde wrote several literary works, including poems and plays. His writing style often reflected the popular trends of his time.
One of his early contributions was a Latin poem called Cursus Glacialis, Anglicè, Scating. This poem was about ice skating. It appeared in a collection of writings from Oxford University in 1699. For a while, some people mistakenly thought this poem was written by his teacher, Joseph Addison.
"The Fall of Saguntum": A Roman Tragedy
Frowde also wrote a serious play called The Fall of Saguntum. This play was written in a style called blank verse, which means it didn't rhyme. It was first performed in London on January 16, 1727. The story was inspired by ancient Roman history, specifically the siege of the city of Saguntum.
The play was dedicated to Robert Walpole, Frowde's former classmate. In the dedication, Frowde praised Walpole for bringing wisdom and knowledge into government. Although the play had a famous actor, James Quin, it was only performed a few times. Before the play opened, a special book was published to help people understand the historical details and references in the play.
"Philotas": Another Dramatic Work
Another tragedy written by Philip Frowde was titled Philotas. This play also used blank verse and was performed in London in February 1731. Like his previous play, Philotas did not become a big success, even though it was performed for six nights. Interestingly, the famous writer Henry Fielding later mentioned Philotas in his novel Joseph Andrews, making a playful comment about it.
