Anthony Henley (1667–1711)
Anthony Henley (1667 – August 1711) was an English
Early life
Henley was son of Sir Robert Henley of the Grange, near Alresford, Hampshire, Member of Parliament for Andover and his second wife Barbara Hungerford, daughter of Anthony Hungerford.[1] He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 3 March 1682, aged 15 and was admitted at Middle Temple in 1684. At Oxford he studied classical literature, particularly poetry.[2] His grandfather was the legal official Sir Robert Henley, master of the court of king's bench, on the pleas side. Out of the profits of this post Anthony inherited a fortune of more than £3,000 a year.
Career
Coming to London, Henley was welcomed by the wits, and was on good terms with the
Wit and patron
Henley was one of the foremost Whig wits who welcomed
The Purcells had patronage from Henley, who was musical. The songs composed by Daniel Purcell for the opera of Brutus of Alba were dedicated on their publication in 1696 to Henley and Richard Norton, a friend; and his music for John Oldmixon's opera of The Grove, or Love's Paradise, was worked out on a visit to Henley and other friends in Hampshire. He himself wrote several pieces for music, and almost finished Daniel Purcell's opera of Alexander. Samuel Garth dedicated to him his poem The Dispensary, and he was a member of the Kit-Cat Club.[2]
Death and legacy
Henley died of
Henley was a half-brother of John Henley and Robert Henley, both MPs. One of his sisters married
The royal assent was given on 22 May 1712 to a bill arranging for the payment of the portions of Henley's younger children. From a letter written in 1733 it is apparent that Swift continued his friendship to the sons.[2]
Works
Notes
- ^ a b c "Henley, Anthony (1667-1711), of the Grange, Northington, Hants.". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1891). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 25. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- Sambrook, James. "Henley, Anthony". doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12927. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1891). "Henley, Anthony". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 25. London: Smith, Elder & Co.