William Sotheby
William Sotheby | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age London, England |
| Died | December 30, 1833 (aged 76) London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, translator |
| Known for | Translations of Homer and Virgil |
William Sotheby FRS (9 November 1757–30 December 1833) was an English poet and translator. Born into a prosperous London family as the son of Colonel William Sotheby and Elizabeth (née Sloan), he received his education at Harrow School followed by the Military Academy in Angers, France. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the army and served for six years until his marriage in 1780, after which he dedicated himself entirely to literary pursuits.
Sotheby became a notable presence within London's literary circles, leveraging his financial independence to support many emerging writers. His acquaintances included prominent figures such as Walter Scott, Byron, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey, Arthur Hallam, and Thomas Moore.
Though he authored several dramas and poetry collections that met with modest acclaim, Sotheby's lasting fame is primarily attributed to his translations. These include Christoph Martin Wieland's Oberon, Virgil's Georgics, and Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Remarkably, he commenced the Homeric translations after turning seventy and lived to see their completion. His rendition of the Georgics notably enhanced his literary standing and received commendation in the Edinburgh Review, which regarded it as potentially "the most perfect translation of a classic poet now extant in our language."
His 1801 theatrical work Julian and Agnes was staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, featuring leading actors John Philip Kemble and Sarah Siddons.
In November 1794, Sotheby was inducted as a fellow of the Royal Society.
He passed away in London in 1833 and was interred at Hackney churchyard. Joanna Baillie, who had been a close companion for nearly three decades, lamented his loss: "A more generous, high-minded, amiable man never lived; combined with his great talents and accomplishments, this forms a character that cannot be replaced."
Family
In 1780, he wed Mary, whose maiden name was Isted, and together they had ten offspring, including:[1]
- Lieutenant-Colonel William Sotheby (circa 1781–1815)
- Rear-Admiral Charles Sotheby[2] (circa 1782–1854)
- George Sotheby of the East India Company (1787–1817), who passed away at Nagpur during the Maharatta conflict
- Hans Sotheby, also affiliated with the East India Company (circa 1780–1827)
- Colonel Frederick Sotheby CB (circa 1780–1870)
References
- ↑ Template:Cite DNB
- ↑ Additional details on Charles Sotheby can be found at: Template:Cite NBD1849