William Guthrie (historian)
Encyclopedia
William Guthrie was a Scottish writer and journalist, now remembered as a historian.
clergyman, he was born at Brechin
, Forfarshire, in 1708. He was educated at Aberdeen University with a view to becoming a parochial schoolmaster, but he settled in London in 1730, and tried literature.
He was first engaged on parliamentary debates for the Gentleman's Magazine, his reports being revised by Samuel Johnson
. He gradually made a reputation as a political writer, and in 1745 received a pension of £200 a year from the Pelham administration. He asked for and was granted a renewal of his pension by the Bute government in 1762.
Guthrie was referred to by Johnson in terms of some respect. He died on 9 March 1770, and was buried in Marylebone
.
, it was said by the author himself. In 1767 appeared ‘A General History of Scotland,’ 10 vols. It is inaccurate, particularly in the early periods.
Probably his most noted book was his ‘Geographical, Historical, and Commercial Grammar’ (1770), which reached numerous editions, and was translated into French in 1801. Besides translations from Quintilian
(1756) and Cicero
(1744–54–55–58), he also wrote ‘The Friends,’ a sentimental novel, in two volumes (1754), and ‘Remarks on English Tragedy’ (1757).
Life
The son of an EpiscopalianScottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
clergyman, he was born at Brechin
Brechin
Brechin is a former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin is often described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese , but that status has not been officially recognised in the modern era...
, Forfarshire, in 1708. He was educated at Aberdeen University with a view to becoming a parochial schoolmaster, but he settled in London in 1730, and tried literature.
He was first engaged on parliamentary debates for the Gentleman's Magazine, his reports being revised by 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...
. He gradually made a reputation as a political writer, and in 1745 received a pension of £200 a year from the Pelham administration. He asked for and was granted a renewal of his pension by the Bute government in 1762.
Guthrie was referred to by Johnson in terms of some respect. He died on 9 March 1770, and was buried in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
.
Works
In 1763 he published his first book, a ‘Complete List of the English Peerage.’ In spite of revision by aristocrats, this work is inaccurate. His next work was a ‘History of England from the Invasion of Julius Cæsar to 1688,’ 4 vols., Lond. 1744–51; a first attempt to base history on parliamentary records. About 1764–7 he published, along with collaborators, ‘A General History of the World, from the Creation to the Present Time,’ in twelve volumes; this was favourably noticed in The Critical ReviewThe Critical Review
The Critical Review was first edited by Tobias Smollett from 1756 to 1763, and was contributed to by Samuel Johnson, David Hume, John Hunter, and Oliver Goldsmith, until 1817....
, it was said by the author himself. In 1767 appeared ‘A General History of Scotland,’ 10 vols. It is inaccurate, particularly in the early periods.
Probably his most noted book was his ‘Geographical, Historical, and Commercial Grammar’ (1770), which reached numerous editions, and was translated into French in 1801. Besides translations from Quintilian
Quintilian
Marcus Fabius Quintilianus was a Roman rhetorician from Hispania, widely referred to in medieval schools of rhetoric and in Renaissance writing...
(1756) and Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
(1744–54–55–58), he also wrote ‘The Friends,’ a sentimental novel, in two volumes (1754), and ‘Remarks on English Tragedy’ (1757).