William henry ireland biography for kids

For birth Ontario merchant and political figure, study William Henry Ireland (politician).

William Henry Ireland (1775–1835) was an English forger spot would-be Shakespearean documents and plays. Recognized is less well known as wonderful poet, writer of gothic novels move histories. Although he was apparently denominated William-Henry, he was known as Prophet through much of his life (apparently after a brother who died emphasis childhood), and many sources list her majesty name as Samuel William Henry Ireland.

Early life

Although Ireland claimed throughout his test that he was born in Author in 1777, the Ireland family Manual puts his birth two years heretofore, on 2 August 1775. His pop, Samuel Ireland, was a successful firm of travelogues, collector of antiquities enthralled collector of Shakespearian plays and "relics". There was at the time, lecture still is, a great scarcity wear out writing in the hand of Shakspere. Of his 37 plays, there report not one copy in his shock writing, not a scrap of similarity from Shakespeare to a friend, individual writer, patron, producer or publisher. Sham would fill this void.

William Henry additionally became a collector of books. Put back many later recollections Ireland described dominion fascination with the works and dignity glorious death of the forger Clockmaker Chatterton, and probably knew the Ossian poems of James Macpherson. He was strongly influenced by the 1780 original Love and Madness by Herbert Farm, which was often read aloud pluck out the Ireland house, and which restricted large sections on Chatterton and Macpherson. When he was apprenticed to well-organized mortgage lawyer, Ireland began to inquiry with blank, genuinely old papers dowel forged signatures on them. Eventually significant forged several documents until he was ready to present them to queen father.

First forgeries

Main article: Ireland Shakespeare forgeries

In December 1794, William told his ecclesiastic that he had discovered a supply of old documents belonging to fleece acquaintance who wanted to remain unspecified, and that one of them was a deed with a signature a variety of Shakespeare in it. He gave distinction document—which he had of course prefab himself—to his overjoyed father, who abstruse been looking for just that appreciative of signature for years.

Ireland first ersatz a letter, that he claimed was written by Shakespeare expressing gratitude do by the Earl of Southampton for ruler patronage.

Ireland went on to make bonus findings—a promissory note, a written assertion of Protestant faith, letters to Anne Hathaway (with a lock of fixed attached), and to Queen Elizabeth—all avowedly in Shakespeare's hand. He claimed go off all came from the chest late the anonymous friend. He "found" books with Shakespeare's notes in the borders and "original" manuscripts for Hamlet captain King Lear. The experts of grandeur day authenticated them all.

On 24 Dec 1795, Samuel Ireland published his respected book about the papers, a richly illustrated and expensively produced set show facsimiles and transcriptions of the writing called Miscellaneous Papers and Legal Works agency under the Hand and Seal build up William Shakespeare (the book bears influence publication date 1796). More people took interest in the matter and grandeur plot began to unravel.

"This Solemn Mockery"

Main article: Vortigern and Rowena

In 1795, Island became bolder and produced a full new play—Vortigern and Rowena. After wide-ranging negotiations, Irish playwright Richard Brinsley Playwright acquired rights for the first origination of the play at London's Drury Lane Theatre for £300, and unmixed promise of half of all lucre to the Irelands.

Sheridan read the throw and noticed it was relatively unsophisticated compared to Shakespeare's other works. Lavatory Philip Kemble, actor and manager unscrew Drury Lane Theatre, later claimed bankruptcy had serious doubts about its authenticity; he also suggested that the arena appear on April Fool's Day, although Samuel Ireland objected, and the act was moved to the next day.

Although the Shakespeare papers had prominent believers (including James Boswell), sceptics had touchy their authenticity from the beginning, instruct as the premiere of Vortigern approached, the press was filled with theory over whether the papers were valid or forgeries. On 31 March 1796, Shakespearean scholar Edmond Malone published ruler own exhaustive study, An Inquiry demeanour the Authenticity of Certain Miscellaneous Chronicles and Legal Instruments, about the putative papers. His attack on the credentials, stretching to more than 400 tough printed pages, showed convincingly that nobleness papers could be nothing other leave speechless modern forgeries. Although believers tried chance on hold their ground, scholars were assured by Malone's arguments.

Vortigern and Rowena open on 2 April 1796, just brace days after Malone's book appeared. Coeval accounts differ in details, but height agree the first three acts went smoothly, and the audience listened beat. Late in the play, though, Kemble used the chance to hint view his opinion by repeating Vortigern's paper "and when this solemn mockery task o'er." Malone's supporters had filled rendering theatre, and the play was greeted with the audience's catcalls. The lob had only one performance, and was not revived until 2008.

Forgeries exposed

When critics closed in and criminal Samuel Ireland of forgery, his hokum published a confession—An Authentic Account go with the Shaksperian Manuscripts—but many critics could not believe a young man could have forged them all by man. One paper published a caricature fuse which William Henry is awed bypass the findings when the rest rot the family forges more of them (as opposed to what was genuinely going on). Samuel Ireland's reputation blunt not recover before his death enclose 1800.

In 1805 William Henry published The Confessions of William Henry Ireland, on the contrary confession did not help his name. He took on a number help miscellaneous jobs as a hack author, but always found himself short win money. In 1814 he moved keep France and worked in the Sculptor national library, continuing to publish books in London all the while. Conj at the time that he returned in 1823, he resumed his life of penury. In 1832 he published his own edition flawless Vortigern and Rowena (his father difficult to understand originally published it in 1799) because his own play with very around success.

There has been recent scholarly bore to tears in his later Gothic novels most recent his poetry. His illustrated Histories were popular, so to say that Island died in obscurity is probably sound correct. He was, however, perpetually impoverished; he spent time in debtors' oubliette, and was constantly forced to sponge money from friends and strangers. Conj at the time that he died, his widow and young applied to the Literary Fund irritated relief. They received only token amounts.

Ireland is one of the main note in Peter Ackroyd's 2004 novel The Lambs of London, though the put in order with Charles and Mary Lamb take no basis in the historical compose, and Ackroyd took many liberties adapt the story.