Thomas North facts for kids

Sir Thomas North (born May 28, 1535 – died around 1604) was an English writer and translator. He was also a military officer, a lawyer, and a local judge (called a justice of the peace). He is most famous for translating a book called Plutarch's Lives into English. This translation was very important because it was a main source for William Shakespeare when he wrote his famous plays about ancient Rome.

Who Was Sir Thomas North?

Thomas North was born in London on May 28, 1535. He was the second son of Edward North, 1st Baron North, a very important person at the time.

Early Life and Adventures

Thomas North probably studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge, a college at Cambridge University. Later, he joined Lincoln's Inn, which is a place where people study to become lawyers.

In 1555, he traveled to Rome as part of an important group. Their job was to help England become friends with the Pope again. Thomas North even kept a diary of his journey. Later, in 1574, he went on another important trip to France with his brother, Roger.

Thomas North also served as a soldier. He was a captain in Ireland in 1580. He also fought in other places, like the Low Countries (which are now Belgium and the Netherlands). When the Spanish Armada threatened England in 1588, he helped defend the Isle of Ely. He was made a knight in France in 1591, which meant he was given the title "Sir." He went back to Ireland in 1596 to help stop a rebellion.

He worked as a justice of the peace in Cambridge in the 1590s. This meant he helped keep law and order in the area. In 1601, he received a reward for helping to stop a rebellion led by the Earl of Essex. He also received a small pension (money paid regularly) from Queen Elizabeth I that same year.

North's Amazing Translations

Sir Thomas North was a very skilled translator. He took books written in other languages and turned them into English. His translations were very popular and helped shape the English language of his time.

The Diall of Princes

In 1557, he translated a book called Reloj de Principes by Antonio de Guevara. North called his English version Diall of Princes. This book was full of good advice and moral lessons. North translated it from a French copy, but he also knew the Spanish version. His translation was known for its fancy and detailed style. It helped set a new trend in English writing.

Ancient Fables from the East

His next translation was The Morall Philosophie of Doni in 1570. This book was a collection of ancient Indian fables, also known as The Fables of Bidpai. These stories had traveled to Europe through Arabic and Italian translations.

Plutarch's Lives: A Masterpiece

North published his most famous translation, Plutarch's Lives, in 1580. He based it on a French version by Jacques Amyot. The first edition was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. He published new editions in 1595 and 1603, adding more translated biographies.

Many people believe that North's English in Plutarch's Lives was very strong and powerful. Some experts even say he was one of the first great masters of English prose (regular written language).

Shakespeare's Connection to North

North's translation of Plutarch's Lives was incredibly important for William Shakespeare. Shakespeare used this book as his main source for several of his famous plays about ancient Rome. These plays include Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, Timon of Athens, and Antony and Cleopatra.

In some of these plays, especially Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare followed North's translation very closely. Whole speeches in Shakespeare's plays were taken almost directly from North's book. Some new discoveries even suggest that North might have written plays for a theater group, and Shakespeare might have used some of North's ideas for his own plays.