Thomas Russell (poet) facts for kids
Thomas Russell (born in 1762 and died on July 31, 1788) was an English poet. He was born in Beaminster, England. His father, John Russell, was a lawyer, and his mother was Virtue Brickle.
Thomas went to school in Bridport and then to Winchester for three years. In 1780, he started studying at New College, Oxford University. He earned his first degree in 1784 and became a priest in 1786.
A Love for Languages and Literature
While at Oxford, Thomas Russell loved learning new languages. He studied French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and German literature. This helped him explore many different kinds of stories and poems.
Sadly, his health became poor. He moved to Bristol Hotwells to try and get better, but he passed away from a serious illness on July 31, 1788. He was buried in Powerstock churchyard in Dorset.
His Famous Poems
In 1789, a small book of Thomas Russell's poems was published. It was called Sonnets and Miscellaneous Poems. This book is very rare today. It contained 23 sonnets, which are special types of poems with a set structure.
Russell's sonnets are considered his best work. He is known as an important poet who helped start the romantic style of poetry. Unlike many poets of his time, he wrote about new and exciting topics like war, love, wizards, and fairies.
He was inspired by other poets like Chatterton and also by older writers like Petrarch, Boccaccio, and Camoens. He studied their works with great interest.
His Greatest Work
Thomas Russell's most famous poem is Sonnet Suppos'd to be Written at Lemnos. Many people believe it is the best English sonnet written in the 18th century.
The person who edited Russell's book of poems was likely William Howley. He later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. Howley was a young student at New College when Russell, who had been his teacher, died.
Sources
- Collection of Thomas Russell sonnets, edited by Howley in 1789
