GLOVER, Hien/tan, an eminent English poet and po litical character, was born in St Martin's Lane, Cannon Street, London, in the year 1712. His father was a re spectable Hamburgh merchant in the city.
Glover was educated entirely at Cheam school, under the Rev. Daniel Sanxay, having never studied at either of the universities. At the seminary above mentioned, he distin guished himself by the rapidity of his progress, and ex hibited early specimens of his poetical powers. At the age of sixteen, he wrote a poem to the memory of Sir Isaac Newton, which was prefixed to the View of Sir Isaac Xew ton's Philosophy, published in 1728, by his friend Dr Pem berton. The seductive charms of literature, however, did not allure him from the pursuits of commerce, to which he was destined ; for, in due time, he embraced his father's profession, and became a Hamburgh merchant ; to which he alludes at the commencement of his poem called Lon don.
The talents of Glover soon brought him into distinguish ed notice. In all matters regarding the interests of com merce, he took a lively and active concern. Nor did the cares and duties of a life of business estrange him_ from the study of poetry, for which he had shewn an early partiali ly. He cultivated the society of those men who were emi nent in politics, science, and literature, especially such as belonged to the party in opposition to the administration of Sir Robert Walpole; and he enjoyed the esteem and con fidence of several persons distinguished for their rank and talents.
On the 21st of May, 1737, he married Miss Nunn, who brot.Q-ht him a fortune of 12,0001. ; and in the same month he pubqshed his Leonidas, an epic poem, in nine books, which est.hlished his reputation as a poet. This poem was popular on its first appearance, but was, no doubt, in a great measure, indebted for its favourable re ception to the and enthusiastic applause of the par ty then in opposition to the emu t. Their extravagant zeal, however, seems to have ultimately proved disadvantageous to the legitimate pretensions of the author, by encouraging exorbitant expectations, which the poem was not calculated entirely to gratify ; for, although possessing great and vious beauties, it has since sunk into an unmerited neglect.
In 1739, he published his London, or the Progress of Commerce ; upon which there followed soon after, his bal lad, entitled liosier's Ghost. Both these pieces appear to have been written with a view to stimulate the nation to resent the depredations of the Spaniards ; and the latter produced a considerable sensation.
During the last mentioned and subsequent years, Glover took a very active part in the politics of the city ; and his talents,itis political knowledge, and his extensive informa tion in matters regarding trade and commerce, placed him so high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens, that he was appointed to conduct the application of the merchants of London to parliament, in 1741 and 1742, on the subject of the neglect of their trade. He accepted the office, and his exertions were crowned with success. In summing up the evidence, upon that occasion, he exhibited striking proofs of his oratorical powers. On the death of Sarah, Dutchess of Marlborough, in 1744, she left, by her will, 500/. each to Glover and Mallet, to write the history of the Duke of Marlborough's life. Glover, it is believed, very early re nounced his share of the bequest ; and Mallet, though he constantly promised, never made the least progress in the performance of the task.
About this period, Glover's affairs became somewhat em barrassed, in consequence of unavoidable losses in trade, and, perhaps, of too zealous an attention to the public in terests, to the neglect of his own private economy. For this reason he determined to withdraw himself, for a time, from public notice, until he should be able to put his af fairs into a more prosperous state. In the beginning of the month of May 1751, lie was drawn from his retreat by the importunity of his friends, and condescended to stand can didate for the office of chamberlain to the city of London, in opposition to Thomas Harrison, Esq. Unfortunately, however, most of the Livery had engaged their votes be fore he declared himself; and after a few days, finding that his antagonist gained ground upon the poll, he gave up the contest. Upon this occasion, he addressed the Livery in a speech full of eloquence and manly resignation. In his re tirement, he finished the tragedy of Boadicea, which he had begun many years before ; and in 1753, it was brought upon the stage at Drury-Lane, and acted nine nights with great success. In 1761, he published his Medea, a trage dy, taken from the dramas of Euripides and Seneca, and professedly constructed upon the ancient plan, each act terminating with a chorus. It was not acted till 1767 ; and has since been often performed with success.