Author: Glanville, John
Biography:
GLANVILLE, John (fl 1800-15)
Pseudonym Falkland
No public records that can be linked to this author have been located. However, he was almost certainly the John Glanville or J. H. Glanville who corresponded with the RLF from 1808 to 1820. Although many of the works he listed in his application to the RLF were ephemeral essays or pamphlets that have not been traced, his letters indicate that he was probably born in Cornwall, possibly in Falmouth, and he lived there and in Devon before moving to London. Once in London he may have established a publishing business in St. James’s street, the address given in some of his publications. In 1800 he was held in the Fleet prison for debt and his first letter to the RLF, dated 9 Oct. 1808, states that he had suffered severe misfortunes and “domestic affliction” in addition to ill health. In none of his letters does he mention a wife or family. Although the RLF initially turned him down, Glanville’s persistence paid off and he was granted £10 on 17 Dec. 1808. His address in 1808 was at Golden Square, London. At the time of his 1812 application he was living at 22 Duke’s Court, St. Martin’s Lane. In 1815 he was again imprisoned for debt and his appeal to the RLF was rewarded with £5. Glanville wrote a last time to the RLF in 1820 when he was voted another £5. Glanville applied again in 1820 and his letter lists among his other activities the editing and publishing of a weekly paper, The Green Man, “against Infidelity, treason and Sedition.” The Green Man was printed at 22 Duke’s Court, King’s Mews, London, from Oct. 1818 to Sept. 1819 and included miscellaneous articles and literary reviews. Nothing more is known. (RLF file 224; BBTI)