| William Walsh Born: 1663
Birthplace: Abberley, Worcestershire, England
Died: 1708
Location of death: England
Cause of death: unspecified
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Poet Nationality: England
Executive summary: Letters and Poems, Amorous and Gallant English poet and critic, William Walsh, son of Joseph Walsh of Abberley, Worcestershire, was born in 1663. He entered Wadham College, Oxford, as a gentleman commoner in 1678. Leaving the university without a degree, he settled in his native county, and was returned M.P. for Worcester in 1698, 1701 and 1702. In 1705 he sat for Richmond, Yorkshire. On the accession of Queen Anne he was made "gentleman of the horse", a post which he held until his death, noted by Narcissus Luttrell on the 18th of March 1708. He wrote a Dialogue concerning Women, being a Defence of the Sex (1691), addressed to "Eugenia"; and Letters and Poems, Amorous and Gallant (preface dated 1692, printed in Jonson's Miscellany, 1716, and separately, 1736); love lyrics designed, says the author, to impart to the world "the faithful image of an amorous heart." It is not as a poet, however, but as the friend and correspondent of Alexander Pope that Walsh is remembered. Pope's Pastorals were submitted for his criticism by William Wycherley in 1705, and Walsh then entered on a direct correspondence with the young poet. The letters are printed in Pope's Works (edited by Elwin and Courthope, VI, 49-60.) Pope, who visited him at Abberley in 1707, set great value upon his opinion. "Mr. Walsh used to tell me", he says, "that there was one way left of excelling; for though we had several great poets, we never had anyone great poet that was correct, and he desired me to make that my study and my aim." The excessive eulogy accorded both by John Dryden and Pope to Walsh must be accounted for partly on the ground of personal friendship. The life of Virgil prefixed to Dryden's translation, and a "Preface to the Pastorals with a short defence of Virgil, against some of the reflections of Monsieur Fontenella", both ascribed at one time to Walsh, were the work of Dr. Knightly Chetwood (1650-1720). In 1704 Walsh collaborated with John Vanbrugh and William Congreve in Monsieur de Pourceaugnac, or Squire Trelooby, an adaptation of Moli�re's farce.
UK Member of Parliament Worcester 1698, 1701, 1702
UK Member of Parliament Richmond, Yorkshire 1705
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