Thomas Godfrey (4 December 1736 - 3 August 1763) was an American poet who died at age 26. He is known for writing '' The Prince of Parthia'', the first play written by an American to be performed by a professional cast, as well for his tribute to

Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer ( ; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for '' The Canterbury Tales''. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry". He ...

and

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 ...

known as '' The Court of Fancy''. His father, also called Thomas Godfrey, was the co-inventor of the first octant, known popularly as Hadley's quadrant.

Biography

Thomas Godfrey showed talent for artistic expression even at a young age. His father, a Philadelphia inventor, died when Thomas was only 13, and his relatives sent him away to a boarding school in England. Upon returning, he was apprenticed to a watchmaker in Philadelphia, despite his desire to become a painter. Even during this apprenticeship, some of his poems were published in ''

American Magazine ''The American Magazine'' was a periodical publication founded in June 1906, a continuation of failed publications purchased a few years earlier from publishing mogul Miriam Leslie. It succeeded ''Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly'' (1876–1904), ...

''. After the apprenticeship, Godfrey joined the military, being involved with the Pennsylvania forces in an expedition against the French-held Fort Du Quesne in 1758. Shortly thereafter, Godfrey wrote what may be the first play written in the

Thirteen Colonies The Thirteen Colonies were the British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America which broke away from the British Crown in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and joined to form the United States of America. The Thirteen C ...

, ''The Prince of Parthia'', which was published two years after his death, and whose first documented performance was two years after that. He died of fever after a short riding trip.

Works

* '' The Prince of Parthia'' * "VERSES Occasioned by a Young Ladys asking the Author What was a Cure for Love?" * ''The Invitation''The Invitation
/ref> * ''The Court of Fancy''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Godfrey, Thomas (writer) 1736 births 1763 deaths Poets from Pennsylvania Writers from Philadelphia People from colonial Pennsylvania 18th-century American poets 18th-century American male writers