David Mallet (writer)
Encyclopedia
David Mallet (c.
1705–1765) was a Scottish dramatist.
He was educated at the University of Edinburgh
, and went to London in 1723 to work as a private tutor. There he became friendly with Alexander Pope
, James Thomson, and other literary figures, including Lyttleton, Bolingbroke, and Chesterfield
.
His best-known work was written in the same year: William and Margaret, adapted from a traditional ballad. In 1740, he collaborated with Thomson on a masque
, Alfred, which was the vehicle for "Rule, Britannia!
". His other plays and poetry (e.g. Amyntor and Theodora), popular at the time, are largely forgotten (see Samuel Johnson
's Lives of the Poets), but he was a significant enough figure to be chosen by Bolingbroke as his literary executor
. Bolingbroke's writings were edited and published by Mallet in 1754.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1705–1765) was a Scottish dramatist.
He was educated at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and went to London in 1723 to work as a private tutor. There he became friendly with Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
, James Thomson, and other literary figures, including Lyttleton, Bolingbroke, and Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
.
His best-known work was written in the same year: William and Margaret, adapted from a traditional ballad. In 1740, he collaborated with Thomson on a masque
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio...
, Alfred, which was the vehicle for "Rule, Britannia!
Rule, Britannia!
"Rule, Britannia!" is a British patriotic song, originating from the poem "Rule, Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740...
". His other plays and poetry (e.g. Amyntor and Theodora), popular at the time, are largely forgotten (see 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...
's Lives of the Poets), but he was a significant enough figure to be chosen by Bolingbroke as his literary executor
Literary executor
A literary executor is a person with decision-making power in respect of a literary estate. According to Wills, Administration and Taxation: a practical guide "A will may appoint different executors to deal with different parts of the estate...
. Bolingbroke's writings were edited and published by Mallet in 1754.