WALPOLE, wal'p61, HoRAcE or Hori.vrm, fourth Earl of Orford (1717-97). An English litterateur. He was probably the fourth son of Sir Robert. Walpole. although some of his con temporaries believed the scandal according to which Carr, Lord Hervey, was his father, owing to the remarkable differences in temperament and taste between Horace and his brothers. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge, afterwards traveling abroad for some years, principally in Italy. In 1741 he returned to England and took his seat in Parliament. In 1747 he pur chased a piece of ground near Twickenham, and built there his famous mansion and literary es tablishment—Strawberry Hill. In 1758 lie pub lished his Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors. This was followed by 7'he Castle of Otranto (1764), a weird tale of mystery which was one of the earliest signs of the Romantic movement; Thr Mysterious Mother, a tragedy (1768) : and the Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of Riclrrn•d III. (1708). Among a multitude of works, however, those to which he owes the preservation of his name are his Letters. These will always be interesting as pictures and records of the society and fashionable gossip of his day. although their historical value is considerably marred by their evident want of truthfulness.
Though thought of himself rather as a fine gentleman who condescended to write than as a professional author, the literary value of his Letters is very high, and sets him beyond question at the head of English letter-writers. On the death of his nephew in 1791 he became fourth Earl of Orford, but seems never to have eared to exercise his privileges as a member of the House of Lords. The best edition of the Letters is by Mrs. Paget Tt,ynbee 1t1 vols.. Lon don. 191)4) : others are edited by Cunningham (London. 18S0). and by Youge (London, ). Among his other writings in modern editions are Meta OUR of the Last Ten Years of George II. (London. 1840) : Memoirs of the Eur•ly Reign of (burg(' Ill. (ib.. 1845) Journal of the Reign of George III. front 1771 to 178.1 (ib., 18591. Austin Dobson, Horace Walpole (New York. 181111) is the latest and best biography. Consult also: 1/cmoirs of Horace 'Walpole (lb, 1 55 1 ) Seeley. Homer Walpole and Ills 11'or•ld (PL. 1S54) Maeaulay's wellknorvn essay on 1Va1pole in the Edinburgh Re ricir for October. 1533.