Charles Beckingham

Charles Beckingham (25 July 1699 – 19 February 1730-31) was an English poet and dramatist.

For the professor of Islamic studies, see Charles Fraser Beckingham.

Charles Beckingham
Born25 July 1699
Died19 February 1730-31
NationalityBritish
EducationMerchant Taylors' School
OccupationEnglish poet and dramatist

Life

Beckingham was born, according to the register of Merchant Taylors' School,[1] on 25 July 1699 (Robinson's Register, ii. 32). His father was a linen draper in Fleet Street. Beckingham was educated at Merchant Taylors' School under Dr. Smith, and is said to have displayed "great proficiency in his studies", and given "the strongest testimonials of extraordinary abilities". On 18 February 1718 Scipio Africanus, a historical tragedy in the regulation five acts, was produced at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. This was followed at the same house on 7 November of the next year by a second work of a similar description, entitled Henry IV of France. The youth of the author, and the presence of a large number of his fellow-students who had been permitted to visit the theatre, gave some éclat to the production of the earlier work. A chief subject of praise in contemporary writers is the manner in which the so-called unities are observed by its author. The plot is founded on a story told by Livy and other classical writers concerning the restoration of a beautiful captive by Scipio Africanus to her betrothed, the Spanish prince Allucius. A considerable portion of the play consists of tedious love scenes, which are necessarily fictitious, and the hero was played by James Quin. Scipio Africanus was acted four times in all, two performances being, it is stated, for the author's benefit. It was printed in duodecimo in 1718. Henry IV of France deals with the jealousy of the Prince of Condé of his wife, who is in love with the king, and ends with the murder of Henry by Ravaillac at the instigation of the papal nuncio and the priests. This play was also given four times, Quin appearing as Henry IV. It was printed in octavo in 1820. In addition to these dramas Beckingham wrote a poem on the death of Rowe, the dramatist; a second entitled Christ's Sufferings, translated from the Latin of Rapin, and dedicated to the Archbishop of York; and other minor poems. He died 19 February 1730-31.[DNB 1][DNB 2][DNB 3][2]

References
  1. London (England). Merchant Taylors' School; Merchant Taylors' School (London, England); Charles John Robinson (1883). A register of the scholars admitted into Merchant Taylor's School: from A. D. 1562 to 1874, comp. from authentic sources and ed. with biographical notices. Printed and published for the editor by Farncombe & co. p. 32.
  2. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1885). "Beckingham, Charles" . Dictionary of National Biography. 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 85.

DNB references

These references are found in the DNB article referred to above.

  1. Jacob's Poetical Register
  2. Baker, Reed, and Jones's Biographia Dramatica
  3. Genest's Account of the English Stage.
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