COWPF:R, WILLIAM, was born on the 15th of November (old style) 1731, at Great Berkhampstead in Hertfordshire, of which place his father, the Rev. John Cowper, wan rector. He was first placed, when be um but six years old, at a school kept by Dr. Pitman, at Market street, in Ilertfordnhire. The cruelty of an elder boy rendered the two years which he spent here two years of misery. Ile was next placed in the house of an oculist, apprehensions being then entertained that be would lose his sight ; and under the care of this oculist two more years of his boyhood were passed. At the age of ten lie was nut to Westminster School, where he stayed till be was eighteen ; applying during these eight years with diligence to his studios, and steteriog with 'spirit into boyish sports.
After leaving Westminster, Cowper was articled for three years to a solicitor, in whose office he had for a fellow-clerk the future Lord Thurlow. During these throe years however he gained no great stock of legal knowledge, and when they were expired he took up his abode In chambers in the Middle Temple. In 1751 he was called to the bar, and in 1759 he was appointed a commissioner of bankrupts. One reason, and doubtless a principal reason, why the law had been fixed upon as Cowper's profession, was the existence of a oertain amount of legal patronage in the hands of some of his relations. Having a small patrimony, and looking forward to the exercise in his favour of this influence, be cared not for those object. to which application would lea), any more than be liked the subject to which he was to apply; and accordingly be neglected the study of law. 'While residing in the Temple he made love to his condo, Theodora Cowper, the sister of his correspondent, Lady Ilesketh, and dallied with literature. He was a member of a club called the ' Noisome Club,' consisting entirely of Westminster men, among whom were Bonne!! Thornton, Colman, and Lloyd; and he contributed a few papers to the ' Connoisseur,' of which Thornton and Colman were the joint projectors and writers.
Ilk residence in the Temple extended through eleven years. In 1763, the last year of that residence, the offices of clerk of the jonroals, reading clerk, and clerk of the committees in the House of Lords, all which offices were at the disposal of a cousin of Cowper's, became vacant about the same time. The two last ears conferred on Cowper.
111s patrimony was by this time well nigh spent, and the gift was therefore so far acceptable. But the duties attached to the offices of ressl:ng °leek and clerk of the committees were duties which required that he should frequently appear before the House of Lords; and to him, who seffer's] from extreme nervousness, a public exhibition of any kind was, as be himself expresses it, "mortal poison." Hu therefore, almost immediately after having accepted them, resigned these offices, and took that of clerk of the journals. But hero again, his cousin's right of nomination having been questioned, Cowper was unexpectedly required to submit himself to an examination at the bar of the bouts before being allowed to take the office. Thus the evil from which be seemed to have escaped again met hint "A thunderbolt," be writes in his memoir of himself, "would have been as welcome to me ns this intelligence. . . . To require my attendance at the bar of the house, that I might there publicly entitle myeclf to the office, was in effect to exclude me from it. In the meantime the interest of my friend, the honour of his choice, my own reputation, and circumstances, all urged me forward—all pressed me to undertake that which I saw to be impracticable." Unceasing was the anguish which he now suffered. He even looked forward anxiously to the coming of insanity, a constitutional tendency to which had manifested itself some years before, that he might have a reason for throwing up the office; and when the dreaded day drew near, and be found himself still in possession of his senses, he determined on the commission of suicide. His many attempts to destroy himself all failed of success, owing, as he is pleased to explain it In his memoir, to direct inter positions of Providence. The office was ultimately resigned on the very day appointed for the examination, and shortly afterwards ho became insane. lie was immediately placed under the care of Dr. Cotton at St.. Alban's, with whom he stayed until his recovery, which took place about eighteen months after, in June 1765.