David Lewis (1682 – April 1760) was an 18th-century British poet.

Life

Lewis was the son of Roger Lewis of Llanddewi Felffre, in the county of

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and otherwise by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and ...

, and was probably born in Wales. He studied at Jesus College, Oxford, matriculating in 1698 and obtaining his

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

degree in 1702. He was undermaster at

Westminster School Westminster School is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Westminster, London, England, in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. It descends from a charity school founded by Westminster Benedictines before the Norman Conquest, as do ...

(1726–1732). During this time, he started to publish poetry, beginning in 1726 with ''Miscellaneous Poems by Several Hands'', which mixed various styles of poetry from different London-based poets from Oxford and Cambridge. Some unidentified poems were by Lewis himself. The collection contained the final revision of John Dyer's '' Grongar Hill'' as well as the first draft of

Alexander Pope Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S. – 30 May 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment era who is considered one of the most prominent English poets of the early ...

's ''Vital spark of heavenly flame'' (1712). Lewis and Pope were in contact thereafter, and Pope's support was acknowledged by Lewis in the introduction to '' Philip of Macedon'', a tragedy by Lewis performed in May 1727. A second volume of poetry, by various people (including Lewis) was published in 1730. Lewis died at Low Leyton in

Essex Essex ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the ...

in April 1760, and was buried at Leyton Parish Church. His wife, Mary, died in 1774 and was buried with him.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, David 1682 births 1760 deaths British poets Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford