Mathias, Thomas James

Author: Mathias, Thomas James

Biography:

MATHIAS, Thomas James (1753/4-1835: ODNB)

The eldest son of Marianne (Popple) and Vincent Mathias, he grew up in a comfortable and well-connected family: his father was a sub-treasurer in the Queen's household, his maternal grandfather had been the Governor of Bermuda, and two of his brothers went on like him to hold appointments with the Queen. He studied Italian while he was at Trinity College Cambridge (MA 1777) and stayed on there as a Fellow until 1782 when his father died and Mathias took over his post. He rose to be treasurer and later librarian at the Queen's house. In 1795 he was elected to both the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries. He seems to have been a quite popular figure in court circles, but he never married. He had a busy writing life. Besides the satires for which he is best known, he published lyric poetry, translations, and editions. He did not put his name to the satires and continued to deny his authorship--he published anonymously or as "the author of the Pursuits of Literature"--although it was an open secret. In 1817, following an illness, he left England for Italy. He settled in Naples and stayed for the rest of his life. Among the works to which he did put his own name are early imitations of Gray (Runic Odes, 1781), a sumptuous edition of Gray's works with extracts from MSS (1814), and the lyric poetry in English and Italian that he published in Italy. He died in Naples. (ODNB 31 March 2020) HJ

Other Names:

T. J. Mathias

A Pair of Epistles in Verse, the First, to the Rev. Doctor Randolph . . . the Second, to the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Jersey . . . .

2nd edn. London: Parsons; Owen; Clarke, 1796

The Shade of Alexander Pope on the Banks of the Thames. A Satirical Poem. With Notes. Occasioned Chiefly, but not Wholly, by the Residence of Henry Grattan . . . at Twickenham . . . ..

Dublin: J. Milliken, 1799

Works . . . ..

Dublin: J. Milliken, 1799

The Imperial Epistle, and the Shade of Alexander Pope.

Philadelphia: A. Dickins, 1800

Pandolfo Attonito! Or, Lord Galloway's Poetical Lamentation on the Removal of the Arm-chairs from the Pit at the Opera House! . . . ..

London: T. Becket, 1800

Author: Mathias, Thomas James

Biography:

Other Names:

Books written (48):

An Heroic Epistle to the Rev. Richard Watson, D.D. F.R.S. Archdeacon of Ely . . . ..

An Heroic Epistle to the Rev. Richard Watson, D.D. F.R.S. Archdeacon of Ely . . . ..

Runic Odes. Imitated from the Norse Tongue. In the Manner of Mr. Gray.

Runic Odes from the Norse tongue .

The Pursuits of Literature, or What You Will: A Satirical Poem in Dialogue. Part the First [of 4].

The Imperial Epistle from Kien Long . . . to George the Third . . . .

An Epistle in Verse to the Rev. Dr. Randolph, English Preceptor to H. R. H. the Princess of Wales . . . ..

An Equestrian Epistle in Verse, to the . . . Earl of Jersey. . . ..

The Imperial Epistle from Kien Long, Emperor of China, to George the Third . . . .

A Pair of Epistles in Verse, the First, to the Rev. Doctor Randolph . . . the Second, to the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Jersey . . . .

The Political Dramatist, in November, 1795. A Poem.

The Political Dramatist of the House of Commons, in 1795. A Satire.

The Pursuits of Literature. Or What You Will. A Satirical Poem in Dialogue. With Notes. Part the Third.

The Pursuits of literature, or What You Will. A Satirical Poem in Dialogue. With Notes. Part the First.

The Pursuits of Literature, or What You Will. A Satirical Poem in Dialogue. With Notes. Part the Second.

The Imperial Epistle from Kien Long . . . to George the Third . . . .

The Pursuits of Literature . . . [Parts 1-3, of 4].

The Pursuits of Literature: A Satirical Poem in Dialogue. With Notes. Part the Third.

The Pursuits of Literature: A Satirical Poem in Dialogue. With Notes. Part the Fourth and Last.

The Pursuits of Literature: A Satirical Poem . . . Part the Fourth and Last.

The Grove. A Satire .

The Grove. A Satire . . . ..

The Grove. A Satire. With Notes, including several Anecdotes of The King.

The Imperial Epistle from Kien Long, Emperor of China, to George the Third . . . in the Year 1794 . . . ..

Odes, English and Latin.

The Pursuits of Literature . . . ..

The Pursuits of Literature, a Satirical Poem.

The Pursuits of Literature. A Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues. With Notes.

The Pursuits of Literature. A Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues. With Notes.

The Pursuits of Literature. A Satirical Poem, in Four Dialogues. With Notes.

The Sphinx's Head Broken: Or, a Poetical Epistle, with Notes to Thomas James M*th**s . . . ..

The Shade of Alexander Pope on the Banks of the Thames. A Satirical Poem . . . ..

The Shade of Alexander Pope on the Banks of the Thames. A Satirical Poem . . . ..

The Shade of Alexander Pope on the Banks of the Thames. A Satirical Poem . . . ..

The Shade of Alexander Pope on the Banks of the Thames. A Satirical Poem. With Notes . . . ..

The Shade of Alexander Pope on the Banks of the Thames. A Satirical Poem. With Notes. Occasioned Chiefly, but not Wholly, by the Residence of Henry Grattan . . . at Twickenham . . . ..

Works . . . ..

The Imperial Epistle, and the Shade of Alexander Pope.

Pandolfo Attonito! Or, Lord Galloway's Poetical Lamentation on the Removal of the Arm-chairs from the Pit at the Opera House! . . . ..

Pursuits of Literature. A Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues, with Notes . . . ..

The Pursuits of Literature. A Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues. With Notes.

The Pursuits of Literature. A Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues. With Notes . . . . With the Citations Translated.

The Pursuits of Literature . . . .

The Garland of Flowers; Composed of Translations, Chiefly Original, from the Spanish, Italian, Greek, Latin, &c..

The Pursuits of Literature a Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues with Notes.

The Pursuits of Literature, a Satirical Poem in Four Dialogues . . . ..

Poesie Liriche Italiane, Inglesi e Latine.

Lyrick Poetry.

The Sphinx's Head Broken: Or, a Poetical Epistle, with Notes to Thomas James Mth**s . . . .*.