John Shebbeare
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John Shebbeare (1709 – 1 August 1788) was a British
Tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...
political
satirist This is an incomplete list of writers, cartoonists and others known for involvement in satire – humorous social criticism. They are grouped by era and listed by year of birth. Included is a list of modern satires. Early satirical authors *Aes ...
.


Life

Born 1709, he was the eldest son of an attorney and corn-
factor Factor (Latin, ) may refer to: Commerce * Factor (agent), a person who acts for, notably a mercantile and colonial agent * Factor (Scotland), a person or firm managing a Scottish estate * Factors of production, such a factor is a resource used ...
of
Bideford Bideford ( ) is a historic port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England. It is the main town of the Torridge District, Torridge Districts of England, local government district. Toponymy In ancient records Bi ...
, Devonshire. A
hundred 100 or one hundred (Roman numerals, Roman numeral: C) is the natural number following 99 (number), 99 and preceding 101 (number), 101. In mathematics 100 is the square of 10 (number), 10 (in scientific notation it is written as 102). The standar ...
and a village in Devon, where the family had owned land, bear their name. Shebbeare was educated at the free school,
Exeter Exeter ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter w ...
, under Zachariah Mudge, and there, it is said, "gave evidence of his future eminence in misanthropy and literature." In his sixteenth year he was apprenticed to a surgeon, and afterwards set up for himself. Having, however, lampooned both his master and the members of the Exeter corporation, he in 1736 removed to Bristol, where in 1750 he was listed in land tax records as being at 10, Guinea Street, a house which is extant. He entered into partnership with a
chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a graduated scientist trained in the study of chemistry, or an officially enrolled student in the field. Chemists study the composition of ...
in the city. In 1740, he published ''A new Analysis of the Bristol Waters; together with the Cause of Diabetes and Hectic, and their Cure, as it results from those Waters'', which was reissued in 1760. The Shebbeare family had left Guinea Street by 1751. In 1752, he went to Paris, where he claimed to have obtained a medical degree, and to have been elected member of the Academy of Sciences. But he found his pen more remunerative than his practice. Settling in London, he began his career as a political writer in 1754, with ''The Marriage Act'', a novel, dedicated to
John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (30 September 17105 January 1771) was a British Whigs (British political party), Whig statesman and peer who served as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1757 to 1761. A leading member of the Whig party durin ...
, one of the chief opponents of
Lord Hardwicke Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, (1 December 16906 March 1764) was an England, English lawyer and politician who served as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. He was a close confidant of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister between 1 ...
's reform. The author was imprisoned for his reflections on the legislature, but his book was reissued in 1755 as ''Matrimony'', and reappeared in 1766. Shebbeare followed up his success in 1756 by an attack on the
Duke of Newcastle Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne was a title that was created three times, once in the Peerage of England and twice in the Peerage of Great Britain. The first grant of the title was made in 1665 to William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle, Willi ...
in the form of ''Letters on the English Nation, by Batista Angeloni, a Jesuit resident in London'', of which he professed to be the translator only. This political satire, modelled on Bolingbroke's writings against
Robert Walpole Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (; 26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745), known between 1725 and 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British Whigs (British political party), Whig statesman who is generally regarded as the ''de facto'' first Prim ...
, alone entitled Shebbeare (in the opinion of Boswell) to a respectable name in literature. Meanwhile, he attacked the ministry directly in the ''Monitor'' and the ''Con-test'', as well as in a series of outspoken pamphlets entitled ''Letters to the People of England'', having, it was said, determined to write himself into a post or into the pillory. At the close of 1757, after Pitt's dismissal, Shebbeare issued his sixth letter, "in which is shown that the present grandeur of France and calamities of this nation are owing to the influence of Hanover on the councils of England." On 12 January 1758, a general warrant was issued against the author, printer, and publisher. On 23 January all copies of a seventh ''Letter'' were seized and suppressed. On 17 June, Shebbeare was tried for libel on an information laid against him by the attorney-general, Pratt, who on this occasion admitted the right of the jury to judge of the law. During the trial, as Walpole laments,
Mansfield Mansfield is a market town and the administrative centre of the Mansfield District in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest town in the wider Mansfield Urban Area and the second largest settlement in Nottinghamshire (following the city ...
laid it down that satires on dead kings were punishable. In summing up he declared that the ''Letter'' nearly approached high treason. On 28 November, Shebbeare was sentenced to a £5 fine and three years' imprisonment in
King's Bench Prison The King's Bench Prison was a prison in Southwark, south London, England, from the Middle Ages until it closed in 1880. It took its name from the King's Bench court of law in which cases of defamation, bankruptcy and other misdemeanours were he ...
, as well as having to pay a bond of £500 and find two £250 sureties for good behaviour for seven years on his release. He was also to stand in the
pillory The pillory is a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, used during the medieval and renaissance periods for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse. ...
at
Charing Cross Charing Cross ( ) is a junction in Westminster, London, England, where six routes meet. Since the early 19th century, Charing Cross has been the notional "centre of London" and became the point from which distances from London are measured. ...
on 5 December. Owing to the friendship of Arthur Beardmore, the under-sheriff, he was allowed to stand upright between the upper and lower boards of the pillory, while an Irish chairman held an umbrella over his head. At the end of an hour he retired amidst the cheers of the crowd, who had been invited by printed bills to come and see 'the British champion.' Beardmore was afterwards punished for his conduct. An anonymous squib appeared under the title ''Memoirs of the Pillory; being a consolatory Epistle to Dr. Shebbeare''. While in prison Shebbeare received subscriptions for a history of England, and actually composed one volume, which was not published. When attacked on the subject in a letter in the ''Public Advertiser'' of 10 Aug. 1774 he excused himself chiefly on the ground of debts incurred in consequence of a lawsuit against Francis Gwyn, who had been concerned with him in the publication of an edition of Clarendon's ''History of the Reign of Charles II''. The book, for which Shebbeare wrote a strong
tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...
introduction, was suppressed by an injunction in chancery at the instance of the Duchess of Queensberry, and, though Shebbeare recovered expenses from Gwyn, half the sum went in costs. Notwithstanding his position, he refused to avail himself of the Insolvent Act. On his release he advocated peace with France, and attacked
John Wilkes John Wilkes (17 October 1725 – 26 December 1797) was an English Radicalism (historical), radical journalist and politician, as well as a magistrate, essayist and soldier. He was first elected a Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlese ...
. On 29 Feb. 1764 a memorial signed by several members of parliament was presented to
George Grenville George Grenville (14 October 1712 – 13 November 1770) was a British Whig statesman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain, during the early reign of the young George III. He served for only two years (1763-1765), and attempted to solv ...
in his favour, and Shebbeare was granted a pension of £200 a year. The king, in reply to Sir
John Philips John Philips (30 December 1676 – 15 February 1709) was an 18th-century English poet. Early life and education Philips was born at Bampton, Oxfordshire, the son of Rev. Stephen Philips, later archdeacon of Salop, and his wife Mary Wood. ...
, who made the application, is said to have spoken of Shebbeare "in very favourable terms." Almon's statement that a pension of £400 had been previously granted by Bute seems doubtful. Henceforth Shebbeare became a steady advocate of the measures of the court, and even assailed his old favourite, Pitt. His most elaborately written work was ''The History of the Excellence and Decline of the Institutions, Religion, Laws, Manners, and Genius of the Sumatrans, and of the Restoration thereof in the reign of Amurath the Third'', 2 vols. 1763. It is a skilful exposure of the weak points in whig policy and administration, followed by a panegyric on
George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...
and his ministers. In style it is a colourable imitation of Bolingbroke. On 3 August 1764, Walpole sent Lord Hertford a pamphlet written by Shebbeare under Grenville's direction, adding the remark, "We do not ransack Newgate and the pillory for writers." He speaks of him as engaged with Carteret Webbe, solicitor to the treasury, in writing against Pratt, the lord chief justice, in a paper called ''The Moderator''. In 1766 Shebbeare offered to John Beard, the manager of
Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist sit ...
, a play he had written in early life, and its non-production led to the publication of the correspondence between them (1767). In 1768 he wrote for three months the reviews of books in the ''Political Register''. In 1770 Shebbeare published an ''Eighth Letter to the People of England''. He defended the American policy of George III against
Richard Price Richard Price (23 February 1723 – 19 April 1791) was a British moral philosopher, Nonconformist minister and mathematician. He was also a political reformer and pamphleteer, active in radical, republican, and liberal causes such as the F ...
and
Edmund Burke Edmund Burke (; 12 January ew Style, NS1729 – 9 July 1797) was an Anglo-Irish Politician, statesman, journalist, writer, literary critic, philosopher, and parliamentary orator who is regarded as the founder of the Social philosophy, soc ...
in the ''
Public Advertiser The ''Public Advertiser'' was a London newspaper in the 18th century. The ''Public Advertiser'' was originally known as the ''London Daily Post and General Advertiser'', then simply the ''General Advertiser'' consisting more or less exclusively o ...
'' and elsewhere. The former he "abused daily in the papers," In 1774, in reflecting on some speeches lately delivered by Thomas Townshend (afterwards Lord Sydney) and Councillor
Lee Lee may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Lee'' (2007 film), Tamil-language sports action film * ''Lee'' (2017 film), Kannada-language action film * ''Lee'' (2023 film), biographical drama about Lee Miller, American photojournalist * ''L ...
, he took occasion to cast aspersions on the character and reputation of William III,
Algernon Sidney Algernon Sidney or Sydney (15 January 1623 – 7 December 1683) was an English politician, republican political theorist and colonel. A member of the middle part of the Long Parliament and commissioner of the trial of King Charles I of Englan ...
, and other Whig heroes, as viewed in the light of the recently published ''Memorials'' of Sir John Dalrymple. An answer appeared as an appendix to a ''Letter to Dr. Johnson on his late Political Publications'', 1775, by a "Doctor of Laws" ( Hugh Baillie). Despite a protest made by
Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...
in the House of Commons on 16 Feb. 1774, the names of Johnson and Shebbeare were usually coupled in whig
pasquinade A pasquinade or pasquil is a form of satire, usually an anonymous brief lampoon in verse or prose, and can also be seen as a form of literary caricature. The genre became popular in early modern Europe, in the 16th century, though the term had b ...
s. It was said that the king had pensioned both a He-bear and a She-bear. In 1776 Wilkes spoke of them as the "two famous doctors" who were "the state hirelings called pensioners" and whose names disgraced the civil list."
William Mason William, Willie, or Willy Mason may refer to: Arts and entertainment *William Mason (poet) (1724–1797), English poet, editor and gardener *William Mason (architect) (1810–1897), New Zealand architect *William Mason (composer) (1829–1908), Ame ...
the poet, writing under the pseudonym "Malcolm Macgregor," in 1777 addressed a scathing ''Epistle'' to Shebbeare, as: Nor did Shebbeare's own political friends altogether spare him. His sudden transition from pillory to pension was glanced at in ''
The Expedition of Humphry Clinker ''The Expedition of Humphry Clinker'' was the last of the picaresque novels of Tobias Smollett, published in London on 17 June 1771 (three months before Smollett's death), and is considered by many to be his best and funniest work. It is an epis ...
'', and he is the "Ferret" of
Tobias Smollett Tobias George Smollett (bapt. 19 March 1721 – 17 September 1771) was a Scottish writer and surgeon. He was best known for writing picaresque novels such as ''The Adventures of Roderick Random'' (1748), ''The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle'' ...
's ''Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves''. Shebbeare seems to have shared Johnson's dislike to Scotsmen. He criticised adversely Smollet's ''History'', and assailed the "Scotch gentlemen criticks" of the '' Critical Review'', then conducted by Smollett. In the revised edition of the ''History'', however, the passage relating to Shebbeare's prosecution in 1758 is curiously laudatory.
William Hogarth William Hogarth (; 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, engraving, engraver, pictorial social satire, satirist, editorial cartoonist and occasional writer on art. His work ranges from Realism (visual arts), realistic p ...
, also one of George III's pensioners, introduced Shebbeare as one of the figures in ''The Polling'', the third work of his four-part ''
Humours of an Election ''The Humours of an Election'' is a series of four oil paintings and later engravings by William Hogarth that illustrate the election of a member of parliament in Oxfordshire in 1754. The oil paintings were created in 1755. The first three pa ...
'' series (he is seen, a shackle on his leg, whispering into the ear of a mad man; in the later print version, he has a copy of the ''Sixth Letter'' in his pocket.).
Frances Burney Frances Burney (13 June 1752 – 6 January 1840), also known as Fanny Burney and later Madame d'Arblay, was an English satirical novelist, diarist and playwright. In 1786–1790 she held the post of "Keeper of the Robes" to Charlotte of Meckle ...
met him in 1774 at the house of Catherine Reid, a Scottish portrait-painter, and has recorded a specimen of his conversation in her ''Early Diary''. It was marked by extraordinary coarseness, and consisted chiefly of abuse of women and Scotsmen, whom he declared to be "the two greatest evils upon earth."


Death

The last production by Shebbeare was ''The Pole Cat, or C. Jennings, the Renegade Schoolmaster ... Detected'', 1788, 8vo. Shebbeare died on 1 August 1788, aged 78 or 79, in Eaton Street,
Pimlico Pimlico () is a district in Central London, in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension to neighbouring Belgravia. It is known for its garden squares and distinctive Regency architecture. Pimlico is demarcated to the north by Lon ...
.


Family

He married young and unhappily. He was quoted by Burney as saying: His wife, Susanna, also from Bideford, died on 25 November 1779. They had three children. One, Elizabeth, was baptised 6 April 1737. His son John, baptised 4 September 1734, matriculated at
St Mary Hall, Oxford St Mary Hall was a medieval academic halls of the University of Oxford, academic hall of the University of Oxford. It was associated with Oriel College, Oxford, Oriel College from 1326 to 1545, but functioned independently from 1545 until it ...
, on 28 October 1758, and graduated B.C.L. in 1765. After having been
incumbent The incumbent is the current holder of an office or position. In an election, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the position that is up for election, regardless of whether they are seeking re-election. There may or may not be ...
of Gaston, Norfolk, John died rector of East Horndon, Essex, on 7 February 1794. He wrote ''The Ornaments of Churches considered, with particular view to the late Decoration of St. Margaret's, Westminster''. Some contemporary documents spell his surname "Shebear" or "Shebbear".


Works

Shebbeare's writings generally are vigorous and well informed, and in scurrility go little, if at all, beyond those of the chief polemical writers of the day. Walpole admitted that his pen was "not without force," and Boswell, who was introduced to him by General
James Oglethorpe Lieutenant-General James Edward Oglethorpe (22 December 1696 – 30 June 1785) was a British Army officer, Tory politician and colonial administrator best known for founding the Province of Georgia in British North America. As a social refo ...
, thought "his knowledge and abilities much above the class of ordinary writers." Besides the works mentioned, he published: *''A Love Epistle in Verse found at Paris'', 1753, 4to; reissued in 1755. *''Lydia, or Filial Piety: a novel'', 4 vols. 12mo, 1755; 2nd edit. 2 vols. 1769; another edit. 1786. *''Authentic Narrative of the Oppressions of the Islanders of Jersey, to which is prefixed a succinct History of the Military Actions, Constitution, &c., of that Island'', 2 vols. 8vo, 1771. *''Address to the Privy Council pointing out an effectual remedy to the Complaints of the Islanders of Jersey'', 1772, 8vo. *''Tyranny of the Magistrates of Jersey ... demonstrated from Records of their Courts'', 1772, 8vo. *''Answer to the Printed Speech of Edmund Burke, esq. ... in the House of Commons, April 19, 1774'', 1775, 8vo. *''Essay on the Origin, Progress, and Establishment of National Society; in which the principles of Government ... contained in Dr. Price's observations are examined and refuted; together with a justification of the Legislature in reducing America to obedience by force; to which is added an appendix on the excellent and admirable in Mr. Burke's speech of 22 March 1775'', 1776, 8vo. Also the following medical works: *''The Practice of Physick, founded on principles in Physiology and Pathology hitherto unapplied in Physical Enquiries'' (undated) *''Candid Enquiry into the Merits of Dr. Cadogan's Dissertation on the Gout; with appendix containing a certain Cure for Gout'', 1772, 8vo. The full list given in the '' European Magazine'' numbers thirty-five pieces. William Wadd (''Nugæ Chirurgicæ'') wrongly attributes to Shebbeare Charles Johnstone s ''Chrysal, or the Adventures of a Guinea''. ''The Memoirs of a Lady of Quality'',via DNB:see written by the Viscountess Vane and introduced into ''Peregrine Pickle'' by Smollett, has also been erroneously assigned to him.


References

(Note: references marked "via DNB" are in the original DNB article but have not been independently verified.) * *via DNB:
The Gentleman's Magazine ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' was a monthly magazine founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1907, ceasing publication altogether in 1922. It was the first to use the term ''m ...
, 1788, p. 753 *via DNB: William Thomas Lowndes's ''Bibliographer's Manual'' *via DNB: Samuel Austin Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit. *via DN
Answer to the Queries contained in a Letter to Dr. Shebbeare, &c.
*via DNB:
James Boswell James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck (; 29 October 1740 ( N.S.) – 19 May 1795), was a Scottish biographer, diarist, and lawyer, born in Edinburgh. He is best known for his biography of the English writer Samuel Johnson, '' Life of Samuel ...
's ''
Life of Samuel Johnson ''The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.'' (1791) by James Boswell is a biography of English writer and literary critic Samuel Johnson. The work was from the beginning a universal critical and popular success, and represents a landmark in the devel ...
'', ed. Hill, iii. 315, iv. 112-13, 214, 318''n''. *via DNB: John Almon's Anecdotes, i. 373, 376 *via DNB:Walpole's Letters, ed. Cunningham, iii. 54, 74, iv. 262 *via DNB:Memoirs of George II, pp. 153–4, and of George III (Barker), i. 141''n''. 262 *via DNB:Early Diary of Frances Burney, ed. A. R. Ellis, i. 275-9 *via DNB:Cunningham's Biogr. Hist, of Engl. v. 389-94 *via DNB:Chalmers's Biogr. Dict. *via DNB: Thomas Wright's
England under the House of Hanover
', i. 284, 373.


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shebbeare, John 1709 births 1788 deaths English satirists 18th-century English writers 18th-century English male writers 18th-century British novelists Writers from Bideford English male novelists