Author: Greenwood, J.
Biography:
GREENWOOD, J. (fl 1774)
The author has not been identified. He wrote three mock heroic poems about the 1774 general election in Worcester and all three were published as by “J. Greenwood” with no date on the title page. In library catalogues and ESTC he is identified as James Greenwood but there is no documentary basis for “James” and no public records for a James Greenwood in Worcester at this time have been located. He may, however, not have lived in Worcester: The Rhapsody indicates a childhood connection to Derbyshire. No university records have been found for J. Greenwood but he was evidently an educated man who skilfully uses the mock heroic conventions. He was a staunch supporter of the independent candidate, Watkin Lewes, who ran in the 1774 Worcester election. Lewes was defeated but petitioned the result, claiming that his opponent had resorted to bribery. Another election led to a second petition which confirmed the result but only in 1776. Some references in Greenwood’s poems suggest that they may in fact postdate the 1776 result. The Worcester bookseller, Richard Lewis, who issued two of the books was active only until 1777. (historyofparliamentonline.org 12 Nov. 2024; Sir Lewis Namier, The House of Commons 1754-1796 [1985])