Author: Delap, John
Biography:
DELAP, John (1724/5-1812: ODNB)
Born at Spilsby, Lincolnshire, he was one of four children of John Delap, a gentleman from Gainsborough. His mother’s name is not recorded. He attended Beverley Grammar School in Yorkshire before entering Trinity College, Cambridge. He transferred to Magdalene College in 1743 and earned his BA (1747), MA (1750), and DD (1762). In 1748 he was elected a fellow of Magdalene and ordained as deacon (1749) and priest (1750). After several ecclesiastical posts—including serving as curate to the Rev. William Mason (q.v.) in Aston, Yorkshire—he became vicar of Iford and Kingston, near Lewes in Sussex, in 1765 and remained there until his death. He began his literary career by writing verse and published Marcellus in 1751 and Elegies in 1760, but his passion was for writing tragedies. Hecuba (1761) was produced by David Garrick at Drury Lane and was moderately successful but he struggled to have some of his others produced. Contemporary reports describe him as being tediously obsessed with talking about his plays. He lived in Lewes but must have spent much time in London where he associated with some major literary figures of the day—Frances Burney, Hester Thrale, and Samuel Johnson. He never married and died at home in Dec. 1812; he was buried on 24 Dec. at St. Thomas à Beckett, Cliffe, Sussex. (ODNB 11 Feb. 2022; ACAD 11 Feb. 2022) SR
Other Names:
- J. Delap
- [John] Delap