Thomas Legge facts for kids
Thomas Legge (born 1535 – died 1607) was an English writer who created plays. He is best known for his play Richardus Tertius. This play is thought to be the very first history play written in England.
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About Thomas Legge
Thomas Legge was born in 1535 in Norwich. He was the second of three sons. In 1552, he moved to Cambridge. There, he started studying at Corpus Christi College.
Soon after, he moved to Trinity College. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1556. Later, in 1566, he went to Oxford and earned his master's degree.
Legge's Career at Cambridge
In 1568, Legge became a teacher at Jesus College, Cambridge. He was known as a good tutor. He also held traditional views on religion.
On June 27, 1573, Legge became the head of Caius College. Many students from Jesus College followed him. While at Caius, he faced some disagreements. For example, he promoted someone named John Depup. This decision was not popular with Dr. Caius.
Legge also held many other important jobs at Caius College. In 1579, he became a university official. He also served two terms as the vice-chancellor. This role is like a senior leader of the university. He held this position from 1587 to 1588 and again from 1592 to 1593.
Thomas Legge passed away on July 12, 1607. He was buried in the chapel at Caius College. In his will, he left money to the college. This money helped build a part of the school's main courtyard.
Thomas Legge's Famous Plays
Legge is most famous for his play Richardus Tertius. This was a three-act play written in Latin. It was performed at St John's College in 1579.
The First History Play
Many people at the time praised Richardus Tertius. It is believed to be the first true history play written in England. Legge used historical records, like Holinshed's Chronicles, to write his play. This was a new way to create drama. It helped change how English plays were written.
Legge's play showed Richard III differently from how Shakespeare later did. Legge's Richard was smart and planned his actions carefully. He used people around him to get what he wanted. He was not shown as deformed or bitter.
Other Works by Legge
It is also thought that Legge wrote another play. This play was called Destruction of Jerusalem. He wrote it around 1577. However, this play was not made public.
