Theophilus Swift facts for kids
Theophilus Swift (1746–1815) was an Irish writer and poet. He was known for his interesting essays and poems during his time.
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His Early Life and Education
Theophilus Swift was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1746. His father, Deane Swift, was a cousin of the famous writer Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver's Travels. Theophilus went to St Mary Hall, Oxford University in England. He finished his studies there in 1767.
His Life as a Writer
After university, Theophilus Swift studied law and became a lawyer in 1774. He worked as a lawyer for a few years. In 1783, his father passed away, and Theophilus inherited some property in Limerick. He then moved back to Dublin.
A Disagreement and Legal Trouble
Theophilus Swift was a strong writer and sometimes his words caused disagreements. In 1789, he was involved in a dispute in London related to something he wrote. Later, he faced legal issues because of a pamphlet he wrote called Animadversions on the Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin. In this writing, he made accusations about some people at Trinity College Dublin. Because of this, he was given a twelve-month sentence in a place called Marshalsea prison.
His Important Award
Even with these challenges, Theophilus Swift was recognized for his writing talent. In 1800, he received the Cunningham Medal from the Royal Irish Academy. This was a special award given for his essay about how rhyme started and grew, titled The origin and progress of rhyme.
What He Wrote
Theophilus Swift wrote many different pieces, including poems and essays. Here are some of his published works:
- The Gamblers, a poem, published in 1777
- The Temple of Folly, a poem with four parts, published in 1787
- Poetical Address to His Majesty, published in 1788
- The Female Parliament, a poem, published in 1789
- The Monster at Large, published in 1791
- An Essay on Rime, which was part of the Transactions of Royal Irish Academy, published in 1801
- The Accomplished Quack: A Treatise on Political Charlatanism, published in Dublin in 1811
His Later Years
Theophilus Swift passed away in Dublin in 1815.
