Parnell, Thomas

Parnell, Thomas, a minor Queen Anne poet, born in Dublin in 1679, son of a commonwealth's man who at the Restoration left Congleton in Cheshire for Ireland. He had his education at Trinity College, took orders, and in 1705 received the archdeaconry of Clogher, later a prebend from Archbishop King and the vicarage of Finglass. The head of an English family settled in Ireland, with property both in that country and in Cheshire, he spent most of his time in London, where his wit procured him the friendship of Harley, Swift, and Pope, and opened to him the Scribler Club. Dr Johnson tells us that his well-timed change of politics coincided with the ejection of the Whigs in the end of Queen Anne's reign. After his wife's death he took to drinking, and died at Chester in October 1718, while on his way to Ireland. Next year Pope published a selection of his poems, mostly translations or adaptations, with the merit at least of being ever smooth and easy in versification. The best known of his poems is the Hermit, a polished and harmonious poem, based upon a tale in the Gesta Romanorum. Still better as poetry, however, are the two remarkable odes, the Night-piece and the Hymn to Contentment. See the admirable Life by Goldsmith, reprinted in the Globe edition of Goldsmith's works (1881).