James Ralph (Q387649)
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* 1695, + 1762-01-24, American writer
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | James Ralph |
* 1695, + 1762-01-24, American writer |
Statements
1695
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24 January 1762Gregorian
0 references
Patrons: Earl of Chesterfield; George Bubb Doddington; given pension by Pelham in 1753; Earl Bute
Coteries: Benjamin Franklin; Henry Fielding
Periodicals etc.: Ralph edited and/or contributed extensive political prose to a long list of periodicals: Weekly Register, Daily Courant, Universal Spectator, The Champion, Common Sense, Old England, The Remembrancer, The Protester. But DNB mentions no poetry placed in any of these.
Overall: Ralph appeared in England after leaving a wife and daughter in Philadelphia--failing to find work in London, he assumed the name of his friend (and creditor) Benjamin Franklin and worked as a schoolteacher in Berkshire. Returning to London he seems to have sought to live by writing, first poetry, then drama, then political journalism and finally history. He worked with Fielding from c. 1730-1750, and beginning in the 40s received a series of pensions from various Whig political figures. Economically, political writing was the only kind that ever gave him security--he doesn't seem to have enjoyed much literary reputation, but his Case of Authors seems to be a very interesting comment on the economics of authorship as we're considering them.
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- wikidatawiki Q6141793