The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume V.

Born into a long‑established Devonshire family, the young man was groomed for the law at Oxford and the Inner Temple, yet his love of literature quickly eclipsed his legal ambitions. Encouraged by a talented cousin who moved in the highest literary circles, he abandoned the bar and entered the world of polite society, where his quick wit, polished speech, and keen memory earned him a reputation for charm and confidence.

His friendship with the celebrated essayist opened doors to the bustling world of early 18th‑century periodicals. He contributed to the influential Tatler and, alongside his cousin, helped shape the Spectator’s eighth volume, while also penning a popular epilogue for a stage drama and a handful of witty epigrams and songs. When his father passed away, he inherited a modest estate that, despite its debts, provided the financial freedom to pursue his literary passions without restraint.