Henry Jones

Henry Jones (1721–1770), born in Ireland, was a poet and dramatist active in London.

Life

Jones was born at Beaulieu, near Drogheda, County Louth, in 1721. He was apprenticed to a bricklayer, but contrived to study privately. Some complimentary verses which he addressed to the corporation of Drogheda and some lines "On Mr. Pope's Death", attracted the attention of Lord-chief-justice Singleton, who lived at Beaulieu.

In 1745 he obtained employment in the reparation of the parliament house at Dublin, Jones celebrated the arrival of Lord Chesterfield as lord-lieutenant of Ireland in a poem which was presented to Chesterfield by Singleton. Chesterfield rewarded Jones liberally, and, at his request, Jones followed him to London in 1748. With the assistance of Chesterfield and his friends, Jones published by subscription Poems on Several Occasions, 8vo, London, 1749, from which he derived a handsome profit. He finished about the end of 1752 his tragedy, The Earl of Essex. Chesterfield warmly commended it to Colley Cibber. The latter introduced Jones to the manager of Covent Garden Theatre, and showed his regard for him by making efforts at court to secure the laureateship for Jones after his own death. Charlotte Melmoth as Queen Elizabeth in Jones' "The Earl of Essex" 1779.

The tragedy, after being carefully revised by Chesterfield and Cibber, was brought out at Covent Garden on 21 Feb. 1753, and, thanks to the fine acting of Spranger Barry in the title role, was played seventeen nights during the season to crowded houses (John Genest, History of the Stage, iv. 370–1, 374, 421). It met with equal success in Dublin and the provinces. Jones's benefits brought him £500. The play was printed soon after its production, and reached a fourth edition in 1770. However, it is of poor literary quality.

Works Reddish, the actor of Drury Lane, obtained all Jones's manuscripts, which included 'Harold' and three acts of another tragedy called 'The Cave of Idra.' The last-named drama was augmented and completed by Paul Hiffernan, and, under the title of 'The Heroine of the Cave,' was produced for Reddish's benefit on 25 March 1774 (ib. v. 450). It was printed in the following year. The fate of 'Harold' is unknown (Baker, Biog. Dram. ed. 1812, ii. 284-5).

Jones wrote also: Philosophy : a Poem address'd to the Ladies who attend Mr. Booth's Lectures. By the Bricklayer, 8vo, Dublin, 1746. An Epistle to the . . . Earl of Orrery, occasion'd by reading his Lordship's translation of Pliny's Epistles, 4to, London, 1751. Merit: a Poem, 4to, London, 1753. The Relief, or Day-Thoughts: a Poem, occasioned by The Complaint, or Night Thoughts [of E. Young] (anon.), 8vo, London, 1754. Verses to. . . the Duke of Newcastle, on the Death of the Rt. Hon. Henry Pelham, 4to, London, 1754. The Invention of Letters, and the Utility of the Press [a poem], s. sh. fol., Dublin, 1755. An Address to Britain [a poem], 4to, London, 1760. Vectis; the Isle of Wight: a Poem, in three Cantos, 4to, London, 1766; another edition, published anonymously as The Isle of Wight, 8vo, Newport, I. W., 1781. Clifton: a Poem, in two Cantos, including Bristol and all its Environs, 4to, Bristol, 1667, or rather 1767; second edition, to which is added an Ode to Shakespear in honor of the Jubilee, &c., 1773. Kew Garden: a Poem, in two Cantos, 4to, London, 1767. Inoculation, or Beauty's Triumph: a Poem, 4to, Bath, 1768.