Samuel Cobb (poet)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Cobb was an English
poet, critic
and school master who was known for a light hearted, ironic pose in his verse and a witty, good natured personal life. He was born in London
and orphaned early in his life. He attended Christ's Hospital
under the Lord Mayor's
charity and continued with indigent aid to Trinity College, Cambridge
for his B.A. in 1698 and M.A. in 1702. Upon graduation with the master's degree, he began teaching at his old school, Christ's Hospital, where he would continue until his death.
Cobb was a classicist and a teacher of grammar at Christ's Hospital, and his poetry shows his knowledge of ancient Greek
. His first publication was in 1694, with A Pindarique Ode . . . in Memory of Queen Mary. The next year, he published Bersaba, and in 1697 he wrote Pax redux. He wrote several other odes and poems celebrating royal occasions, evidently with an eye toward gaining sufficient funds to relieve his poverty. This was a habit he would continue with 1709's The Female Reign (on the accession of Anne). His most famous poem was Poetae Britannici in 1700
, which was a survey of previous English poetry in a light style, clear diction, and imagery that later critics like John Nichols
considered "sublime."
Cobb was also interested in earthy humor. In 1707, he wrote Discourse on Criticism and the Liberty of Writing and argued for the virtue and freedom of the author against too nice a critique. He wrote Mouse-Trap in 1708, and Cobb translated Chaucer's
The Miller's Tale in 1712. Cobb's translation was extremely popular, and it colored the eighteenth century's understanding of Chaucer. He also worked with John Ozell
and Nicholas Rowe to translate The Works of Lucian in 1710-1711.
Cobb's cause of death is unknown. He was buried in the cloisters of his school.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
poet, critic
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
and school master who was known for a light hearted, ironic pose in his verse and a witty, good natured personal life. He was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and orphaned early in his life. He attended Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
under the Lord Mayor's
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
charity and continued with indigent aid to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
for his B.A. in 1698 and M.A. in 1702. Upon graduation with the master's degree, he began teaching at his old school, Christ's Hospital, where he would continue until his death.
Cobb was a classicist and a teacher of grammar at Christ's Hospital, and his poetry shows his knowledge of ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
. His first publication was in 1694, with A Pindarique Ode . . . in Memory of Queen Mary. The next year, he published Bersaba, and in 1697 he wrote Pax redux. He wrote several other odes and poems celebrating royal occasions, evidently with an eye toward gaining sufficient funds to relieve his poverty. This was a habit he would continue with 1709's The Female Reign (on the accession of Anne). His most famous poem was Poetae Britannici in 1700
1700 in literature
The year 1700 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* May 5 - Within a few days of John Dryden's death , his last written work, The Secular Masque, is performed as part of Vanbrugh's version of The Pilgrim....
, which was a survey of previous English poetry in a light style, clear diction, and imagery that later critics like John Nichols
John Nichols (printer)
John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
considered "sublime."
Cobb was also interested in earthy humor. In 1707, he wrote Discourse on Criticism and the Liberty of Writing and argued for the virtue and freedom of the author against too nice a critique. He wrote Mouse-Trap in 1708, and Cobb translated Chaucer's
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
The Miller's Tale in 1712. Cobb's translation was extremely popular, and it colored the eighteenth century's understanding of Chaucer. He also worked with John Ozell
John Ozell
John Ozell was an English translator and accountant who became an adversary to Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope.He moved to London from the country at around the age of twenty and entered an accounting firm, where he was successful in managing the accounts of several large entities, including the...
and Nicholas Rowe to translate The Works of Lucian in 1710-1711.
Cobb's cause of death is unknown. He was buried in the cloisters of his school.