Bennet Langton
Encyclopedia
Bennet Langton was an English
writer and a founding member of the Literary Club. He is best known for his close friendship with writer Samuel Johnson
and his numerous appearances in James Boswell
's book The Life of Samuel Johnson.
Langton was born to the Reverend Bennet Langton (1696–1769) and his wife, Diana, daughter of Edmund Turner of Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire, and descendant of the old family of the Langtons of Langton, near Spilsby
, Lincolnshire
. He was baptised in York
on 11 January 1736, and he graduated from Trinity College, Oxford
in 1757.
He gained an introduction to Johnson as a young man due to his interest in The Rambler
. He attended to Johnson during his last illness and was left a book in his will. He succeeded Johnson as professor of ancient literature at the Royal Academy
.
Langton also contributed to The Idler.
He married Mary, née Lloyd (d. 1785), widow of John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes
, in 1770 and they had four sons and five daughters. He died in Southampton
on 18 December 1801; there is a memorial to him in Southampton's St. Michael's Church
, with the epitaph written by Johnson.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
writer and a founding member of the Literary Club. He is best known for his close friendship with writer Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
and his numerous appearances in James Boswell
James Boswell
James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland; he is best known for the biography he wrote of one of his contemporaries, the English literary figure Samuel Johnson....
's book The Life of Samuel Johnson.
Langton was born to the Reverend Bennet Langton (1696–1769) and his wife, Diana, daughter of Edmund Turner of Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire, and descendant of the old family of the Langtons of Langton, near Spilsby
Spilsby
Spilsby is a market town and civil parish in Lincolnshire. England. The town is situated adjacent to the main A16 Trunk Road at the southern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds north of the Fenlands, east of the county town of Lincoln, north east of Boston and north west from Skegness.The town has...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. He was baptised in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
on 11 January 1736, and he graduated from Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
in 1757.
He gained an introduction to Johnson as a young man due to his interest in The Rambler
The Rambler
The Rambler was a periodical by Samuel Johnson.-Description:The Rambler was published on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1750 to 1752 and totals 208 articles. It was Johnson's most consistent and sustained work in the English language...
. He attended to Johnson during his last illness and was left a book in his will. He succeeded Johnson as professor of ancient literature at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
.
Langton also contributed to The Idler.
He married Mary, née Lloyd (d. 1785), widow of John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes
John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes
General John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes KT was a senior British Army officer who became Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.-Military career:Born the son of the 9th Earl, Leslie was commissioned into the 9th Regiment of Dragoons in 1715...
, in 1770 and they had four sons and five daughters. He died in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
on 18 December 1801; there is a memorial to him in Southampton's St. Michael's Church
St. Michael's Church, Southampton
St. Michael's Church is the oldest building still in use in the city of Southampton, England, having been founded in 1070, and is the only church still active of the five originally in the medieval walled town. The church is a Grade I Listed building....
, with the epitaph written by Johnson.