Richard Fiddes facts for kids

Richard Fiddes (born in 1671, died in 1725) was an English Anglican priest and a historian. This means he was a religious leader in the Church of England and also someone who studied and wrote about the past.

Life of Richard Fiddes

Early Life and Education

Richard Fiddes was born in a place called Hunmanby in England. He went to Oxford University for his education. After finishing his studies, he became a priest. In 1696, he was given a special job as a priest in a town called Halsham in Holderness.

Moving to London

Later, Richard Fiddes faced some health problems. Because of this, he asked for permission to live in Wickham, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire. In 1712, he moved to London. He was also not very wealthy at the time. He hoped to start a career as a writer in London.

In London, he met a famous writer named Jonathan Swift. Swift helped him get a job as a chaplain in Hull. A chaplain is like a priest who serves a specific group or institution. Richard Fiddes also became a chaplain for the earl of Oxford, who was an important nobleman.

However, in 1714, there was a change in the government, and Richard Fiddes lost his chaplaincy in Hull. After this, he decided to focus completely on his writing.

Important Writings

Richard Fiddes wrote several books. His most famous and important book is called Life of Cardinal Wolsey. It was published in London in 1724. This book is still useful today because it contains old documents that help historians learn about Cardinal Wolsey, who was a powerful figure in English history.

He also wrote other works. One was a Prefatory Epistle published in 1714. This was a letter about Homer's famous poem, the Iliad. He wrote it because another famous poet, Alexander Pope, was planning to translate the Iliad. Another important book was Theologia speculativa, published in London in 1718. This book was so good that it earned him a special degree from Oxford University, called a D.D..

During his lifetime, Richard Fiddes was well-known as a writer and a very learned person.