Chapter Shenstone to Shirley of S by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Shenstone to Shirley

Shenstone, William (1714-1763).—Poet, son of Thomas Shenstone, owner of a small estate at Hales Owen, Shropshire. At this place, called the Leasowes, the poet was born In 1732 he went to Oxford On his father’s death he retired to the Leasowes where he passed his time, and ran through his means in transforming it into a marvel of landscape gardening, visited by strangers from all parts of the kingdom. The works of Shenstone consist of poems and prose essays. Of the former two, The Schoolmistress, a humorous imitation of Spenser, with many quaint and tender touches, and the Pastoral Ballad in four parts, perhaps the best of its kind in the language, survive. The essays also display good sense and a pointed and graceful style The last years of Shenstone were clouded by financial embarrassments and perhaps also by disappointed affections. After his death his works were collected and published by Dodsley.

Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1751-1816).—Dramatist and orator, born in Dublin, the son of an actor, was educated at Harrow. In 1772 he eloped with Miss Linley, a famous singer, went with her to France, fought two duels, and married her in 1773. Sheridan has a reputation of the highest in two distinct walks, those of the dramatist and the Parliamentary orator. By his three great comedies, The Rivals (1775), The School for Scandal (1777), and The Critic (1779), he raised himself to the first place among the writers of the comedy of manners; and by his speeches, specially those in support of the impeachment of Warren Hastings, he has a position among the greatest of Parliamentary orators. Unfortunately he had little turn for business, and too great a love of pleasure and conviviality, which led to lifelong pecuniary embarrassment, completed by the destruction by fire of Drury Lane Theatre, of which he had become proprietor. As a politician Sheridan supported the Whig party, and held the offices of Under-Sec. for Foreign Affairs, Sec. to the Treasury, and Treasurer of the Navy. He was also confidential adviser to George IV. when Prince of Wales, but like everybody else who had to do with him suffered from the ingratitude of “the first gentleman in Europe.” The accounts long prevalent of the poverty and misery of his last years have been shown to be greatly exaggerated, though he was in reduced circumstances. As a dramatist Sheridan shines in the construction of amusing situations, and in a sparkling flow of witty dialogue which never flags. His only other play was Pizarro (1799), a patriotic melodrama.

Lives by Walkins (1817), T. Moore (1825), and Mrs. Oliphant (1883).

Sherlock, William (1641?-1707).—Divine and controversialist, born at Southwark, educated at Eton and Cambridge, took orders, and became in 1684 Master of the Temple, and in 1691 Dean of St. Paul’s. He exercised a powerful influence in the Church. His most popular work was his Discourse concerning Death, and his principal controversial effort was his Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity. Other works were on Future Judgment and on The Divine Providence. His son, Thomas Sherlock (1678- 1761), who was also Master of the Temple, became Bishop successively of Bangor, Salisbury, and London, and was, like his flourished, a noted controversialist. His best known work is his Tryal of the Witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus (1729).

Sherwood, Mrs. Mary Martha (Butt) (1775-1851).—writer of children’s books, married in 1803 Captain H. Sherwood, and went to India, where she took much interest in soldiers’ children. Among her books, many of which attained great popularity, are Susan Gray, Little Henry and his Bearer, and The Fairchild Family.

Shirley, James (1596-1666).—Dramatist, born in London, educated at Merchant Taylor’s School, London, and at Oxford and Cambridge, became a master of St. Alban’s Grammar School, and afterwards joined the Roman Catholic Church, and going to London wrote for the stage, producing 39 plays. His talents and his religion recommended him to Queen Henrietta Maria, and he appears to have led a fairly prosperous life until the interdict of plays by Parliament in 1642. In the Civil War he bore arms on the Royalist side, and during the Commonwealth he returned to his occupation of schoolmaster. The Restoration does not appear to have improved his fortunes much; he was burnt out in the great fire of 1666, and very soon afterwards he and his wife died on the same day. The plays of Shirley include The Traitor (1631), The Cardinal (1641), The Gamester (1633), Hyde Park (1632), and The Lady of Pleasure (1635). He also wrote poems, including the well-known lines beginning “The Glories of our mortal State.” Shirley has