Author: Merrick, James
Biography:
MERRICK, James (1720-69: ODNB)
Merrick is a "prior" author, included in this bibliography only because some of his previously-published work is included in collections with original work by other poets published for the first time in 1770 or later. The son of Elizabeth (Lybbe) and John Merrick, he was born in Reading, graduated from Trinity College Oxford (BA 1739, MA 1742), and took orders but did not become a parish priest. Instead he retired to Reading and engaged in scholarship and writing; he also undertook philanthropic work on behalf of debtors in prison and soldiers in the local garrison. He published his first book of poetry, Messiah, in 1734; his major publications were Poems on Sacred Subjects (1763) and The Psalms . . . in English Verse (1765). He died in Reading and was buried with his parents at Caversham Church. (ODNB 4 Apr. 2021; WorldCat)
Other Names:
- Merrick