Thomas Tickell facts for kids
Thomas Tickell (born December 17, 1685 – died April 23, 1740) was an English poet and writer. He was known for his friendship with the famous writer Joseph Addison. Tickell also worked for the government in important roles.
Early Life and Education
Thomas Tickell was born in Bridekirk, a village near Cockermouth in Cumberland, England. His father was a clergyman, which is a religious leader.
From 1695 to 1701, Thomas went to St Bees School. After that, in 1701, he started studying at The Queen's College, Oxford University. He earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1709. The next year, he became a fellow of his college. This meant he was a member of the teaching staff. In 1711, he became a University Reader, which is like a professor of poetry.
Tickell did not become a clergyman himself. However, a special permission from the King allowed him to keep his position at the college. He kept this role until he married Clotilda Eustace in Dublin in 1726.
Career and Politics
Thomas Tickell was very close to the Whig political party. Because of this, people sometimes called him 'Whigissimus'.
In 1717, he became an Under Secretary to Joseph Addison. Addison was a very important government official, serving as Secretary of State.
Later, in 1724, Tickell received another important job. He was made secretary to the Lords Justices of Ireland. These officials helped govern Ireland. Tickell kept this job until he passed away in 1740. He was 54 years old when he died in Bath, England.
Family and Home
Thomas Tickell owned a house and a small piece of land in Glasnevin, Ireland. This property was located next to the River Tolka. Today, this land is part of the Botanic Gardens. You can still see a double line of yew trees there. These trees were originally part of Tickell's garden. They are now known as Addison's Walk.
In 1726, Thomas Tickell married Clotilda Eustace. Her father was Sir Maurice Eustace. Clotilda was described as a "most clever and excellent lady." She lived for more than 50 years after her husband died.
Thomas and Clotilda had four children who lived to adulthood. One of their sons was named John. John's son, Richard Tickell, later became a playwright. He married Mary Linley, who came from a family famous for music.
The writer Samuel Johnson said that Thomas Tickell was a very dedicated family man. He also said that Tickell lived a balanced life.
His Writings
Thomas Tickell's success as a writer was largely due to his friendship with Joseph Addison. Addison helped him get his government job in 1717. This made another writer, Richard Steele, quite upset with Tickell.
During peace talks with France, Tickell published a poem called Prospect of Peace in 1713. This poem was about the idea of peace.
In 1715, Tickell released his own translation of the first book of the Iliad. This happened at the same time that Alexander Pope released his version. The Iliad is a very old and famous Greek poem. Addison reportedly said that Tickell's translation was the best. This made Pope angry, and he thought Addison had written it himself.
Addison later asked Tickell to gather all his works. These were printed in 1721, with Tickell as the editor.
Kensington Garden (1722) is Tickell's longest poem. Some people think it is a bit too grand or academic. Many believe that Tickell's best poems were inspired by his admiration for Joseph Addison. His most famous work is a heartfelt poem written after Addison's death. It was for Addison's stepson, Edward Rich, 7th Earl of Warwick. In this poem, Tickell wrote:
He taught us how to live, and oh! too high, the price for knowledge, taught us how to die.
For a long time, his poem Cohn and Mary was the most popular of his works. Tickell also wrote for famous magazines like The Spectator and The Guardian.
