Chapter Dodd to Dorset of D by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Dodd to Dorset

Dodd, William (1729-1777).—Divine and forger, educated at Cambridge, became a popular preacher in London, and a Royal Chaplain, but, acquiring expensive habits, got involved in hopeless difficulties, from which he endeavoured to escape first by an attempted simoniacal transaction, for which he was disgraced, and then by forging a bond for £4200, for which, according to the then existing law, he was hanged. Great efforts were made to obtain a commutation of the sentence, and Dr. Johnson wrote one of the petitions, but on Dodd’s book, Thoughts in Prison, appearing posthumously, he remarked that “a man who has been canting all his days may cant to the last.” Dodd was the author of a collection of Beauties of Shakespeare, Reflections on Death, and a translation of the Hymns of Callimachus.

Doddridge, Philip (1702-1751).—Nonconformist divine and writer of religious books and hymns, born in London, and educated for the ministry at a theological institution at Kibworth, became minister first at Market Harborough, and afterwards at Northampton, where he also acted as head of a theological academy. Doddridge, who was a man of amiable and joyous character, as well as an accomplished scholar, composed many standard books of religion, of which the best known is The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul (1745). In 1736 he received the degree of D.D. from Aberdeen. He died at Lisbon, whither he had gone in search of health. Several of his hymns, e.g., Ye Servants of the Lord, O Happy Day, and O God of Bethel, are universally used by English-speaking Christians, and have been translated into various languages.

Dodgson, Charles Lutwidge (“Lewis Carroll”) (1832-1898).—Mathematician and writer of books for children, son of a clergyman at Daresbury, Cheshire, was educated at Rugby and Oxford After taking orders he was appointed lecturer on mathematics, on which subject he published several valuable treatises. His fame rests, however, on his books for children, full of ingenuity and delightful humour, of which Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and its sequel, Through the Looking-glass, are the best.

Dodsley, Robert (1703-1764).—Poet, dramatist, and bookseller, born near Mansfield, and apprenticed to a stocking-weaver, but not liking this employment, he ran away and became a footman. While thus engaged he produced The Muse in Livery (1732). This was followed by The Toy Shop, a drama, which brought him under the notice of Pope, who befriended him, and assisted him in starting business as a bookseller. In this he became eminently successful, and acted as publisher for Pope, Johnson, and Akenside. He projected and published The Annual Register, and made a collection of Old English Plays, also of Poems by Several Hands in 6 vols. In addition to the original works above mentioned he wrote various plays and poems, including The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green (1741), and Cleone (1758).

Donne, John (1573-1631).—Poet and divine, son of a wealthy ironmonger in London, where he was born Brought up as a Roman Catholic, he was sent to Oxford and Cambridge, and afterwards entered Lincoln’s Inn with a view to the law. Here he studied the points of controversy between Romanists and Protestants, with the result that he joined the Church of England. The next two years were somewhat changeful, including travels on the Continent, service as a private sec., and a clandestine marriage with the niece of his patron, which led to dismissal and imprisonment, followed by reconciliation. On the suggestion of James I., who approved of Pseudo-Martyr (1610), a book against Rome which he had written, he took orders, and after executing a mission to Bohemia, he was, in 1621, made Dean of St. Paul’s. Donne had great popularity as a preacher. His poetical works consist of elegies, satires, epigrams, and religious pieces, in which, with some conceits, there is much noble poetry and imagination of a high order. Among his writings may be noted An Anatomy of the World (1611), an elegy; also his fine Epithalamium (1613), Progress of the Soul (1601), and Divine Poems. Collections of his poems appeared in 1633 and 1649. He exercised a strong influence on literature for over half a century after his death; an influence that shows signs of reviving. Early folios of his remarkable sermons appeared, 1640, 1649, 1660.

Doran, John (1807-1878).—Miscellaneous writer, of Irish parentage, wrote a number of works dealing with the lighter phases of manners, antiquities, and social history, often bearing punning titles, e.g., Table Traits with Something on Them (1854), and Knights and their Days. He also wrote Lives of the