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Thomas Morell

1703 – 1784

British scholar

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About Thomas Morell

Lived 1703 – 1784 (aged 80). Thomas Morell was a British theologian, librettist and religious.

Thomas Morell (; 18 March 1703 – 19 February 1784) was an English librettist, classical scholar, and printer.

Thomas Morell, 1763 engraving by James Basire after William Hogarth.

Life He was born in Eton, Berkshire and educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge (BA, 1726, MA, 1730 and DD, 1743).

He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and in 1768 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society as a "Rector of Buckland in Hertfordshire, Author of the Greek Thesaurus lately published, and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Gentleman well skilled in Natural History and every branch of Polite Literature".

He was appointed Garrison Chaplain at Portsmouth barracks in 1775.

Morell wrote the longest and most detailed surviving account of collaboration with Handel.

He died in 1784 and was buried in Chiswick, London.

Librettos He is best known as the librettist of the following of George Frideric Handel's oratorios: Judas Maccabaeus (1747). Joshua (1748). Alexander Balus (1748). Theodora (1750). The Choice of Hercules (1751). Uncertain if Morell was the librettist. Jephtha (1752). The Triumph of Time and Truth (1757). Morell was probably the librettist.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
Eton College, King's College
Awards
Fellow of the Royal Society; Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries

People in Thomas Morell's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Thomas Morell's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Thomas Morell?

British scholar

When was Thomas Morell born?

Thomas Morell was born on 18 March 1703 in Eton.

When did Thomas Morell die?

Thomas Morell died on 19 February 1784 in London.

What was Thomas Morell's occupation?

Thomas Morell was a theologian, librettist and religious.

What nationality was Thomas Morell?

Thomas Morell was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Thomas Morell

· Wikidata: Q1526959

· DBpedia: Thomas Morell

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Morell. https://biography.guide/thomas-morell-theologian/

MLA: "Thomas Morell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-morell-theologian/.

Chicago: "Thomas Morell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-morell-theologian/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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