Glover, RICHARD

Glover, RICHARD, an English poet, was born in London in 1712, and was educated at Cheam, in Surrey. He was a prosperous merchant in his native city, and sat in parliament for some years as member for Weymouth. In 1737 he published Leonidas, an elaborate poem in blank verse, which was increased from nine to twelve books in 1770, and followed by a posthumous sequel, the Atheniad (1788). These poems are not deficient in dignity and elevation of tone, but are turgid and heavy, and are now almost as well forgotten as their author's tragedies, Boadicea (1753) and Medea (1761). His ballad, Admiral Hosier's Ghost, long enjoyed a factitious reputation. Glover was an upright, fearless, and patriotic citizen. He died in 1785; and in 1813 his diary was published.