Thomas Davies (bookseller)
Thomas Davies (c. 1713 – 1785) was a Scottish
Life
He was born about 1713, and was educated at the University of Edinburgh (1728 and 1729). In 1736 he appeared in
Davies performed at Edinburgh, where he was accused of monopolising popular parts, and then at Dublin. In 1753 he was engaged with his wife at Drury Lane, with some success as understudies. In 1761 appeared Churchill's Rosciad, in which the line "He mouths a sentence as curs mouth a bone" which, according to Samuel Johnson, drove Davies from the stage. Davies apparently left the stage in 1762, when he again set up as a bookseller at 8 Russell Street, Covent Garden. Here in 1763 he introduced James Boswell (who had been introduced to him by Samuel Derrick) to Johnson.[1]
Davies was a member of a booksellers' club which met at the Devil Tavern,
Publisher
Davies republished the works of authors including
In 1778 Davies became bankrupt, and Johnson exerted his influence on Davies's behalf, collected money to buy back his furniture, and induced Richard Brinsley Sheridan to give him a benefit at Drury Lane. Davies then appeared for the last time as Fainall in William Congreve's The Way of the World. Next year Davies dedicated his Massinger to Johnson. Johnson later encouraged Davies to write the life of Garrick, supplied the first sentence, and gave help with Garrick's early years. The book appeared in 1780, passed through four editions, and brought money and reputation to the author.
Encouraged by this success, he published in 1785 Dramatic Miscellanies, consisting of critical observations on several plays of Shakespeare, with a review of his principal characters and those of various eminent writers, as represented by Mr. Garrick and other celebrated comedians. With anecdotes of Dramatic Poets, Actors, &c., 3 vols., 1785. A second edition appeared the same year.[1]
References
- Attribution
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Davies, Thomas (1713?-1785)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885โ1900.
External links
- Media related to Thomas Davies (bookseller) at Wikimedia Commons