Oliver Goldsmith

Paul Baines (University of Liverpool)

Ed. by Janet Todd, University of Cambridge
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

Born 10 Nov 1730
Died 4 Apr 1774
Activity 1757-1774

Places

Born in Ireland, Republic of (Eire)
Active in England; Ireland, Republic of (Eire); France; Italy; Switzerland

Activities

Primary

Biographer
Essayist
Historian / Chronicler
Journalist
Literary Critic/ Historian
Novelist
Playwright / Dramatist
Poet

Resources

Goldsmith's Works

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Oliver Goldsmith was born about 1730, probably at Pallas, in County Westmeath, the second son of the Reverend Charles Goldsmith. His father became curate of Kilkenny West and the family moved to Lissoy, where Goldsmith grew up. He was educated at local schools from about 1737 to 1745, when he entered Trinity College, Dublin. He graduated in 1750, despite being involved in a student riot in 1747 (the year in which his father died). Having failed to get ordained in the Church of Ireland he became tutor to a family living in County Roscommon. He made journeys to Cork, perhaps with the intention of emigrating to America, and to Dublin, with the intention of studying law in London. These plans came to nothing. In 1752 he entered the University of Edinburgh to study medicine, on money supplied…

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1962 words

Citation: Baines, Paul. "Oliver Goldsmith". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 June 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5211, accessed 23 November 2024.]