Cowper, William, 1731-1800 (poet)
Biography
William Cowper (1731-1800), poet, was born at Great Berkhampstead on 15 November 1731, the son of John Cowper, D.D., and Anne, daughter of Roger Donne of Ludham Hall, Norfolk. He was educated at Westminster School, before spending three years articled to a solicitor. He entered Middle Temple in 1748, and was called to the bar in 1754, becoming a commissioner of bankrupts in 1759. As a result of his declining mental health, Cowper was taken to a private house at St Albans for treatment in December 1763. After his recovery, he resigned his commissionership of bankruptcy. He removed to Huntingdon in 1765, where he befriended John Newton, vicar of Olney, whom he assisted in his parish duties. Cowper suffered from a fresh bout of mania in 1773, but recovered to devote himself to literary work. A volume of his poems was published in 1782, and the publication of the Task in 1785 won him popular acclaim. As well as producing other volumes of poems, Cowper's translation of Homer's Iliad was published in 1791, and he edited an edition of Milton, which included his translations of Latin and Italian poems. He died on 25 April 1800.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
John Johnson: Diary Transcripts on William Cowper
A transcription of entries from the diary of John Johnson, 28 July 1795 - April 1800, relating to William Cowper. Although the paper is watermarked 1816, the document dates from a later period.
John Johnson: Pro et Contra
Transcribed by T.R. Glover, 100 folios. A copy, line for line and page for page, of a diary kept by John Johnson of the dreams, voices and notices of William Cowper, 15 November 1797 - 23 April 1799: (fo. i) explanatory note by the transcriber; (fo. ii) C. Sayle, an additional note, 22 June 1917; (fo. 1) text.
William Cowper: Notes on Dreams
Notes on dreams experienced and voices heard, 15 Nov. 1797 - 23 Apr. 1799, in the hand of John Johnson of East Dereham, 108 folios. Fos 52-106 and the verso throughout are blank.