WARTON, Thomas, English writer: b. Basingstoke, 9 Jan. 1727 or 28; d. Oxford, 21 May 1790. He was the younger son of Thomas Warton, and brother of Joseph Warton (q.v.). He studied under his father until, at the age of 16, he matriculated, 16 March 1743-44, at Trinity College, Oxford. With this university he was associated for life. Here he received his B.A., in 1747; took orders; became a tutor; re ceived the degree of M.A., in 1750, a fellowship in 1751, and the degree of B.D. in 1767. For two terms of five years each, beginning in 1757, he was professor of Poetry; and in 1785 he was appointed Camden Professor of History of Ox ford, and Poet Laureate. In 1771, he was made a Fellow of the London Society of Antiquaries; and from 1782 he was, like his brother Joseph, a member of Dr. Johnson's Literary Club.
Warton's significance in English literature consists in the influence that he exerted in favor of the romantic revival in the 18th century. In his 'Observations on the Faerie Queen of Spen ser' (1754), in his critical edition of Milton's early poems, and especially in his great 'History of English Poetry' (1774-81), he demonstrated to all who could understand, that English poetry did not begin with Dryden, and that it might rightfully deal with subjects other than those chosen by the Queen Anne wits. His 'Observa tions on the Faerie Queen' is a strong plea for romanticism and for a study of Spenser, of chivalry, and of mediaval life. His 'History
of English Poetry' embodies, in the clear prose style of Warton's day, a knowledge, rare even in our own, of En,glish poetry from the close of the llth century to the end of the Eliza bethan period. Later scholarship has discovered in Warton's 'History> some errors of detail; but it remains, nevertheless, a monument of wide reading and profound research. In addi tion to these historical and critical works, War ton promoted the romantic movement by his experiments in the verse-forms and subject matter of Spenser and Milton. Notable among his imitations of the latter are his sonnets, his ode on the 'Approach of Summer,' and his 'Pleasures of Melancholy.) His chief works are 'The Triumph of Isis' (1749); 'Newmarket, a Satire> (1751); a humorous 'Guide' to Oxford (1760) ; an anthol ogy of university wit entitled 'The Oxford Sausage' (1764) ; 'Observations on the Faerie Queen of Spenser' (1754) ; 'History of English Poetry from the Close of the Ilth to the com mencement of the 18th Century' (Vol. I, 1774; Vol. II, 1778; Vol. III, 1781; Vol. IV, never published) ; 'Poems . . . by John Milton . . . with Noies Critical and Explanatory . . (1785) ; a collection of his own poems (1777); fourth edition (1789) ; and another edition, corrected by himself before his death (1791). Consult his 'Life' by C. Rinaker (Urbana, Ill., 1916).